New World Quail

New World quails are a group of small birds native to the Americas, going from Canada to southern Brazil, with some species like the California quail and the bobwhite quail having been introduced to New Zealand. They belong to the family Odontophoridae, which is not closely related to the Old World quail found in the Phasianidae family. Including a variety of species that occupy diverse habitats ranging from rainforests to deserts, New World quails are known for their short but strong legs suited for digging, a general absence of spurs, and their preference for walking or running to escape danger. Their flight is typically limited to short bursts. These birds display plumage that can be either simple or quite brilliant, and many bear decorative crests or plumes, with males usually more colorful than females. New World quails are ground-dwelling, shy, and active during the day, with diets comprising insects, seeds, vegetation, and tubers. Breeding habits, better studied in North American species, suggest a monogamous pairing, ground nesting, and the production of large clutches, with chicks being precocial and forming large family groups. Some New World quails like the northern bobwhite and California quail are popular as gamebirds and are not considered threatened, despite being hunted and stocked artificially. However, certain species face risks from habitat loss and illegal hunting.