Oklahoma National Wild Turkey Federation

The question of wild turkeys eating quail chicks and eggs is back again.  Or maybe it never went away?  There was an article in the Tulsa World on March 23rd about the decline in quail populations.  The author describes how the decline in quail is a result of the increase in wild turkeys.  This theory has been around for years, and it is usually accompanied by a story of a hunter that knows someone, who knows someone, who killed a gobbler with a quail chick in its crop.

So, how did this theory come about in the first place?

In much of the U.S. quail populations began declining at about the same time wild turkey populations were being restored.  Many areas began to support very healthy wild turkey flocks at the same time that quail coveys were shrinking or disappearing.  Many people automatically assumed the population changes were related.  In reality, quail numbers began their slide due to other factors.  According to Roger Wells, National Habitat Coordinator for Quail Unlimited, Inc. these factors are “Things such as land use change, urbanization, agricultural changes, and an increasing predator community.”  Wells said there is no evidence of wild turkeys affecting quail numbers.  It was more of a coincidence that turkey numbers were rebounding at the same time that quail were declining.

Recently there have been several studies looking at predation of quail.  The results show no evidence of wild turkeys predating quail nests.  For example, an article in the Houston Chronicle lists coyotes, skunks and badgers as the top nest predators from a recent study in south Texas by Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and does not mention wild turkeys.  The Tall Timbers Research Station has been looking at nest predation of over 400 quail nests in the southeast United States.  Common snakes, raccoons and armadillos are listed as the main predators.

Historically, wild turkeys and quail occurred in similar habitats and both flourished.  Currently, the main difference is that wild turkeys have broader habitat requirements and can travel farther for food, water, shelter, and nesting habitat than quail.  That is why the habitat changes that have so drastically impacted quail haven’t had as much of a negative impact on wild turkeys.  Quail require specific habitat components to be found within a relatively small home range, while wild turkeys can travel several square miles to meet their needs.

In areas where the habitat needs for both species are present quail and wild turkey coexist at high densities.  Some of these areas include; western Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle and central Kansas.  This is strong evidence that the decline in quail populations is due to a lack of quality habitat rather than an increase in wild turkeys.

Written By
Ross Huffman
NWTF Regional Biologist

For more information contact the nearest Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Office , or Ross Huffman, P.O. Box 19754, Amarillo, TX 79114, (806) 367-5711.