Photo: Louis Agassiz Fuertes / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Montezuma Quail
Cyrtonyx montezumae
Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) — Gamebirds of North America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is a member of the Odontophoridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 185 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Odontophoridae New World Quail
- Genus Cyrtonyx
- Species montezumae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 185 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Montezuma Quail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Montezuma Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is a member of the Odontophoridae family, within the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw US, Mexico.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 185 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 4.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 754,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Montezuma Quail?
The Montezuma Quail is a large bird that weighs around 185 g.
Where does the Montezuma Quail live?
The Montezuma Quail is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw US, Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Montezuma Quail belong to?
The Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) belongs to the Odontophoridae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Montezuma Quail eat?
The Montezuma Quail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Montezuma Quail migrate?
The Montezuma Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Montezuma Quail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Montezuma Quail make?
1 real field recording of the Montezuma Quail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Montezuma Quail's range?
The Montezuma Quail has a mapped global range of about 754,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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