Quail

Northern bobwhite quail, commonly known as quail, are named for their distinctive call. South Dakota is on the extreme northern range for these birds with wild birds occurring in the extreme southeastern part of the state. Quail may be found in a variety of semi-open areas including farmland, ditches, woodland edges and brushy meadows. Seeds and insects make up a large share of this birds diet. The birds nearly always forage on the ground, but will occasionally move into low shrubs and vegetation. They are usually found in coveys in the fall. One trait the bird is noted for is "freezing" when alarmed to allow its camouflage coloring to blend into its surroundings.