Bobwhite Wing and Gizzard Fat as Predictors of Body Fat

Forty bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) were collected in late winter of 2 years from a variety of habitats in northwestern Texas to evaluate the use of wing fat and gizzard fat as predictors of body fat. No differences were found in body fat between sexes or between years. Regression analyses revealed that the best predictor of body fat was wing fat, which was related to body fat in an exponential, rather than linear, fashion. A logarithmic model (Y = e-0.0 6 + 0.17X, R2 = 0.68, P < 0.0001) best described the observed curvilinear relationship between body fat (g) and wing fat (%). The model provides a simplified index that may be useful in evaluating nutritional condition of bobwhites.