The best bird feeder and seed for quail
Ground feeders that need cover close by. In the Southwest, milo and millet scattered near brush bring Gambel's quail coveys.
Which feeder types do quail use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground tray | Millet, cracked corn | None | A low mesh tray a few inches off the ground keeps seed out of wet soil. |
Feeders quail use, budget to premium
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What seed do quail like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| White proso millet | The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. | Keeps well |
| Cracked corn | Offer only what disappears in a day. Wet, mouldy corn is dangerous to birds. Also attracts house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. | Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould |
| Milo (sorghum) | The red seed that fills cheap mixes. Western ground birds eat it; most eastern feeder birds do not, so it ends up on the ground. | Keeps well |
Food to buy for quail
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Where and when should you feed quail?
- Height and spot: Ground.
- When: Year round.
- Range: Bobwhite in the East, California and Gambel's quail in the West.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings mourning doves, juncos, sparrows and towhees, which use the same feeder types.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings
Get the quail feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for quail on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for quail?
A ground tray is the most reliable choice for quail. Ground feeders that need cover close by. Pair it with white proso millet, place it ground, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a ground tray widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do quail eat at feeders?
In order of preference: white proso millet, cracked corn and milo (sorghum). The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for quail?
Ground. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so quail can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do quail come to feeders?
Year round. Range: Bobwhite in the East, California and Gambel's quail in the West. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season quail are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do quail use birdhouses?
No. Quail build open nests in shrubs, trees or on the ground and do not use enclosed nest boxes. Dense native shrubs, brush piles and leaving leaf litter in place do far more for them than any structure.