The quail is a small bird weighing between 100 and 150 grams. Quails are often farm-raised in the United States, and they can be found in most major supermarkets, either fresh or frozen. They make up about 2% of meat production in the US, and 6 species of quail are native to North America.
Pheasants are larger birds that typically weigh between 2 to 6 pounds. Pheasant farming is widespread across Europe, making up about 5% of meat products annually. Adult pheasants will eat plant material such as seeds, leaves, corn cobs, and fruit pits. Quails, on the other hand, prefer to eat insects like mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers.
Quails
Quails are small birds found in many colors, including brown, white, black, and spotted. They have short tails and tend to be shy birds. Quails typically weigh between 100-200 grams (about the size of a tennis ball) and live for around 1 year in the wild.
They eat mostly seeds and insects but can also consume small amounts of fruit. Quails require grit to help them digest their food properly, so they always need access to some type of gravel or sand.
Pheasants
Pheasants are a bit larger than quails, typically weighing in at around 500 grams, and can vary and go higher based on species. They come in many different colors, including red, green, gold, and blue.
Male pheasants are easily identifiable by their long tail feathers, which can span up to 45 cm. Pheasants aren’t as shy as quails and can be pretty aggressive birds. They live for around 2 years and eat primarily seeds and insects but will also consume small amounts of fruit or vegetation. Like quails, pheasants require grit to help them digest their food properly.
Quail vs Pheasant Birds: Dietary Differences
These birds’ diet is also different, with pheasants eating a greater variety of foods and more animal matter in their food. The difference in how the two birds taste is also distinct, as Quails have a milder taste, while pheasant has lean meat that can be dry if overcooked but delicious when prepared properly.
In cooking methods for both birds, it’s best to use moist heat such as braising, poaching, or stewing since these tenderize the lean flesh without drying them out.
- Quails are typically leaner birds, while Pheasants have a higher fat content
- Quails are primarily ground feeders, while Pheasants prefer to forage
- Quail eggs are less caloric than chicken eggs
- There’s a growing demand for quail meat in the restaurant industry
- Quails require a much smaller living space than pheasants when raised for meat
- Quails are easy to breed and care for, making them a popular choice for game bird farming
Whether you’re choosing between a pheasant and a quail at your favorite hunting spot or looking to add some variety to your poultry rotation, it’s essential to know the dietary differences between these two popular game birds.
Hunting Quail vs Pheasant Birds
Physical Characteristics
The dark color of the feathers are similar in both species, but the color can vary depending on where they birds are from. Both birds generally have darker bodies with lighter chests or bellies that range from tan to cream-colored and light brown heads.
They also both have black throats with white chins along their necks leading up toward their face under their beaks. This area also contains bright red skin underneath that makes a ring around each bird’s eye. Their legs tend to be yellow or orange, looking somewhat pinkish like chickens would usually be.
It’s important to note that the chestnut color on their necks, cheeks, and top of the head could also vary in shade depending on the species and how many years it’s been since the bird molted – this process involves growing new feathers.
Weight
Pheasants can weigh up to 6 pounds, while quails typically don’t exceed half a pound at maturity (except for larger species such as Old-World Quail). Quail will reach around 6 inches tall when standing upright, with some Old-World Quail being the exception at up to 10 inches tall. For comparison purposes, chickens generally weigh between 5 and 8 ounces each, whereas pheasants usually range from 12 oz – 16 oz.
Fight or Flight
Quails are much nimbler than pheasants and can dart away quickly when startled, making them harder to shoot. On the other hand, Pheasants have a flighty nature but will usually stay in one spot if there’s enough cover for them to hide in.
Taste and Texture
Pheasants and quails have quite a bit of texture compared to chicken or turkey meat. Some people might describe it as tasting closer to a dove or even partridge, which some consider a delicacy. Pheasant is considered game bird meat and, therefore, is slightly higher priced than chicken at the grocery store.
Population Size
Pheasant populations have been doing reasonably well over the past few years, and quail numbers are also increasing and branded least concerning for now. This is great news for wild bird hunters.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the differences between quail vs pheasant birds is essential to your hunting knowledge or farming knowledge. Whether you’re looking to raise your own quail or pheasants or learn how to hunt them more effectively, this guide should provide you with some basics to help you get started.
Both birds are relatively easy to raise and hunt, with pheasants being the larger and meatier of the two species. That said, quails are also worth considering for small game hunters and farmers with minimal space.
