I will eat as many quail as you can put in front of me. I have not, however, hunted them enough to call myself a bird hunter. If we're considering turkeys birds, then on occasion I'm a bird hunter but not a serious one.
I wouldn't agree with this. AZ, TX, Utah, & Idaho have some of the best upland public land hunting in the states. I spend nearly 50% of my summer Mearns guiding for out of state hunters in Southern Arizona. If your dog's can take the heat, they'll find the birds.