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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Game Birds


The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and their allies, including partridges, grouse, turkeys, and Old World Quail. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad relatively short wings. Many species are game birds, or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. There are 180 species world wide, 16 North American species, and 8 Californian species.

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. There are 32 species, worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 6 North American species, and 3 Californian species..
wild turkey are game birds found in Calfornia nature Wild turkeys are native to the southeastern United States. They have been introduced in many parts of the west, including California. California’s wild turkeys now occupy about 18 percent of our state, and are a highly valued upland game bird. Many Californians also enjoy watching them.

Wild turkeys prefer oak woodlands, but are found in grasslands and pine forests as well. They are swift runners and are wary of people. Wild turkeys do have the ability to fly. They are rather large and clumsy in flight, but are capable of it. The male turkey has a more colorful head and darker plumage. He also has a spur on each leg and a "beard" of feathers on the chest. Young gobblers may not have the spur and beard yet. These youngsters are called "jakes."  The female turkey has a more subtly colored head. She is able to hide better due to this natural camouflage. It is useful when she is sitting on her nest and needs to be concealed from predators.

Turkeys are polygamous. The male struts with his tail fanned to attract a harem. He fluffs up his feathers and drags his wing tips along the ground. This makes him look bigger. You can often find the tracks made by the dragging wingtips. Turkeys lay eight to ten buff-colored eggs with brown spots. Eggs are laid in a shallow depression in the ground, lined with grass and leaves.
The California Valley Quail is the California State Bird. Found commonly in the Central Valley of California, they live in small coveys easily found in shrubby areas and open woodlands. When flushed they explode into the air at a fast flight. The California Quail is a gray, ground-dwelling bird, more slender than most other quail.

It has a light breast with scaled patterning, white streaks along brown sides, and black and gray scaling on the nape of the neck. The female has a tan head with a small feather plume. The male has a bold black face outlined in white, with a brown crown and a pendulous feather plume hanging forward from his forehead.

California Quail are predominantly ground dwellers, although the males spend much time off the ground in bushes, trees, and on manmade structures, especially when calling. They live in groups called 'coveys' that move about within a home range during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, coveys break up into breeding pairs that spread out across the home range to nest.
The ring necked pheasant can be hunted in California nature The Ring-necked Pheasant was introduced into North America from Asia and is established over much of the continent, especially in agricultural lands. It is a distinctive and colorful species and is a popular game bird. Pheasants are birds that can be found alone or in small flocks. Typically, a mother hen and her flock will stay together until early autumn. While pheasants are able to fly fast for short distances, they prefer to run. If startled however, they will burst to the sky in a "flush." Their flight speed is 27 to 38 mph when cruising but when chased they can fly up to 60 mph.

Pheasants practice "harem-defense polygamy" where one male keeps other males away from a small group of females during the breeding season. Roosters typically have a harem of several females during spring mating season. Hen pheasants nest on the ground, producing a clutch of around ten eggs over a two to three week period in April to June. The incubation period is about 23–26 days.

Male ring-necks feature a white ring around their neck and body plumage of gold, brown, green, purple, and white. The roosters head has blues, greens, and a distinctive red wattle. Females are much less showy with drab brown feathers.
A colorful duck of wooded swamps and stream sides, the Wood Duck is one of only a few North American ducks that nest in trees. Many people consider it to be the most beautiful of all waterfowl. T

he Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times up to 1.2 miles away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of up to 290 feet without injury! Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired.

The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year. Natural cavities for nesting are scarce, and the Wood Duck readily uses nest boxes provided for it. If nest boxes are placed too close together, many females lay eggs in the nests of other females. These "dump" nests can have up to 40 eggs.
Blackbirds    California Condor    Cardinals    Cranes    Crows, Jays, & Magpies   Eagles    Finches    Flycatchers    Hawks Hummingbirds    Owls    Game Birds    Raptors    Shore Birds    Sparrows    Tanager    Thrushes    Vultures    Wading Birds Warblers      Woodpeckers      Wrens
 
 
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