Diets of Sympatric Bobwhite and Scaled Quail in Oklahoma

Fall-winter diets of sympatric bobwhite (Colinus uirginianus) and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) in southwestern Oklahoma were compared during 1978 80 using analysis of crop contents. High overlap was present between the 2 species for 1978 - 79 (Overlap coefficient C = 0.65) and 1979 - 80 (C = 0.88). Staple items included seeds of wheat, mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), broomweed (Xanthocephalum dracunculoides), buffalobur (Solanum rostratum), and flax (Linum sp.). Frequency of occurrence of broomweed seeds increased as winter progressed in 1979 - 80, possibly because of low availability of more preferred foods. Interspecific competition for food resources may become important during latewinter months when seed supplies are decreased.