Foods of scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) in southeastern New Mexico

In late summer and autumn 1981-1988, 563 scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) were collected in southeastern New Mexico to determine amounts and kinds o f food items ingested and to evaluate variation in feeding habits by sex, a ge, time of day, month and year. Grasshoppers and seeds of Helianthus, Euph orbia and Croton were dominant food items. Diet did not differ between sexe s or age groups. Scaled quail consumed more grasshoppers and other insects in morning, and more seeds in afternoon. Composition of diet differed by mo nth and year; these differences may be due to annual variation in rainfall and may be related to population fluctuations.