Chapter 4: Wildlife Conservation and Management
Upland Birds

Upland birds live in forests, brushlands, and prairies where there is cover. Examples are grouse, quail, and pheasants. Upland birds are found throughout North America.

Range Maps

All animal descriptions are accompanied by a map showing the animal's habitat range. The maps are color-coded as follows:

Stocky, all-black bird with fan-shaped tail.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives almost anywhere except deserts and pine forests. Makes a “caw-caw” call. Nests in trees; 4 - 6 green-colored eggs with brown spots.

Light grayish-brown; lighter below; wings are darker; tail has tipped outer feathers.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in dry uplands, grain fields, thickets of shrubs or trees, shrublands, and deserts. Unmated male makes a “ooahoo-oo-oo-oo” sound. Breeding male and female make a short “ooahoo” call. Nests in trees; two white eggs.

Large, chicken-like bird. Male is gold-colored with white neck band, green and purple iridescent head, and red wattle around eyes. Hen is dull brown with dark flecks on wings and back. Both have long tail feathers.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in farmlands near woods. Male makes “skwagock” cackle; female “kia-kia” sound. Flies for short distances. Nests in grasses and shrubs; 10 - 12 brownish-green eggs.

Brown; male with white eyebrow and throat, dark streak across eyes; female with buff-colored eyebrow and throat.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in fields, farmlands, and open woodlands. Makes a wide variety of calls, including "bob-white." Nests in ground; 12 - 14 white eggs.

Brown to grayish-brown, with black ruffs (sides of neck). Chicken-like in form with slight crest.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in forests with dense undergrowth and brushy areas. Alarm call is a sharp "quit-quit"; female makes soft clucking sound. Nests under brush; 9 - 12 buff-colored eggs.

Credit: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Hal Korber

Large, long-legged bird with dark, iridescent body; featherless, reddish head. Male is larger and more iridescent than female.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in open woodlands, brush country, thickets of shrubs or trees, river bottoms, and hardwoods. Lives up to 12 years. Polygamous males. Mating call is a gobble; normal calls are clucks, putts, and purrs. Nests in depressions; 6 - 20 whitish eggs.

Brownish with lighter buff breast; large, lighter-colored head; short neck; large dark eyes. Very long, straight bill.

Habitat and Habits:
Lives in woods and thickets near open areas. Makes a "peeent" sound. Nests in depressions in ground; four buff-colored eggs with brown markings.

North American Flyways

There are four major North American flyways—the Pacific, the Central, the Mississippi, and the Atlantic Flyways. The migration route is from the northern breeding grounds to the southern wintering grounds. The lanes of heaviest concentration conform very closely to major topographical features, following the coasts, mountain ranges, and principal river valleys. Except along the coasts, the flyway boundaries are not always sharply defined.

Pacific Flyway
Central Flyway
Mississippi Flyway
Atlantic Flyway