An Assessment of Habitat Quality for Northern Bobwhite in Tall Fescue-Dominated Fields

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) fields studied in Kentucky during 1990-1991 had dense vegetation with little bare ground and low plant species diversity. Thus, northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) did not have an opportunity to select high quality, preferred foods. Available food did not meet basic requirements for growing or breeding quail. Invertebrate populations appeared diverse and abundant, but were likely inaccessible to bobwhite chicks. Data indicated tall fescue was not good northern bobwhite habitat because it lacked the proper vegetation structure, floristic composition, and sufficient quality food.