Feral Quail (1 Viewer)

[Scooby2]

Question:

Do Quail released for hunting go feral?

Thanks.

 

[KHamblett]

Chukars, a partridge, were released on Maui for hunting, and are now common, with other introduced game birds.
I suspect that a quail, given the right environment, can also survive and reproduce...

 

[chris butterworth]

As far as I know all Common Quail, if that's what you mean, releases, in the UK have failed due to the birds migrating. Released California Quail are established in Corsica and Northern Bobwhite in central France, northern Italy and Croatia and, even then, only in Italy have they managed to become truly self sustaining.

Chris

 

[bkrownd]

Several species of released quail will easily become established and naturalized in appropriate habitats. They will hybridize, as well.

 

[saluki]

Most quail released in Europe are domesticated Japanese Quail or hybrid Japanese x Common. There's a possibility that this could cause problems as the domestic birds are non-migratory of course, and sometimes hybridise with migrant Common Quail, thus lowering their impulse to migrate. Personally, I've never heard of anyone releasing Common Quail in the UK, though domestic Japanese Quail occasionally escape.

Cheers
Jonathan

 

[Richard Klim]

According to Ebels et al 2011 (Throat patterns of Common Quails trapped in the Netherlands and alleged influence of hybridization with Japanese Quail), estimates indicate that probably 200,000-400,000 Common x Japanese hybrids are released annually in Italy, with smaller numbers in France; also Eastern Europe (Croatia, Hungary, Romania), where numbers may add up to several 100,000s.

Japanese Quail was once (but no longer) considered to be established in Italy.

 

[Scooby2]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Such a great resourse and knowledgeable community here.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Most quail released in Europe are domesticated Japanese Quail or hybrid Japanese x Common. There's a possibility that this could cause problems as the domestic birds are non-migratory of course, and sometimes hybridise with migrant Common Quail, thus lowering their impulse to migrate. Personally, I've never heard of anyone releasing Common Quail in the UK, though domestic Japanese Quail occasionally escape.

Cheers
Jonathan

I spent ages once, trying to see a calling common quail. I failed. Later I spoke to the farmer and he told me that he'd released some.

I've still never seen common quail in the UK. With a British list of about 490, I feel I may hold some kind of record!

 

[chris butterworth]

I spent ages once, trying to see a calling common quail. I failed. Later I spoke to the farmer and he told me that he'd released some.

I've still never seen common quail in the UK. With a British list of about 490, I feel I may hold some kind of record!

Would have been worse if you'd had crippling views - only to find out they were japonicus .

Chris

 

[Steve Babbs]

Would have been worse if you'd had crippling views - only to find out they were japonicus .

Chris

It does show how hard quail are to see. I had permission to wander in the field and I still couldn't see the little sods!

 

[AlfArbuthnot]

Would have been worse if you'd had crippling views - only to find out they were japonicus .

Chris

The calls are fairly different, so japonicus should easily be spotted.

I imagine that would also be a barrier to widepread hybridisation in the wild, as the calls are different enough to be a species barrier. Different story when they're both in a cage though.