The low down on upland birds.

Article from the POST REGISTER (10/7/04)

You may hear people talk about watching or hunting upland game birds or waterfowl. You might wonder what waterfowl or upland birds mean. Well, these are not particular birds, but two different groups of birds.

The main difference between these two groups is where the birds are found. Waterfowl are usually found on or around water. They are strong swimmers with webbed feet and are strong fliers. Waterfowl include ducks, geese and swans.

Upland game birds are found in drier landscapes, like mountainsides and farm fields. They are usually good runners and not very good at flying long distances. The name, upland game birds, gives us a clue as to which birds are in this group. Upland refers to where they are found, and game means an animal that may be hunted and eaten.

Idaho has 13 different birds that are considered upland game birds. They are ring-necked pheasant, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, California quail, bobwhite quail, Gambel's quail, mountain quail, chukar, gray partridge and turkey. It is important to remember that although a bird may be an upland game bird, not all upland game birds may be hunted. People are not allowed to hunt mountain quail or Gambel's quail. Idaho doesn't have many mountain quail and Gambel's quail left, so they are protected from being hunted.

Of the 13 species, only six are native to Idaho. That means they have always been in Idaho and were not brought into Idaho from other states or countries. Mountain quail, sage grouse, sharptailed grouse, blue grouse, spruce grouse and ruffed grouse are all native to Idaho.

All upland game birds nest on the ground. They will scrape out a shallow hole and line it with plants and feathers.