California Quail Photo Gallery
Male
Plump, short-legged game bird with forward-facing, comma-shaped crest. Look for scaled black-and-white belly, chestnut belly patch, and fine black-and-white markings on neck.
© Nancy Christensen / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 15, 2018Female
Females are brownish-gray on the neck and face, lacking the male's strong head markings.
© David M. Bell / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 17, 2020Male
Although they spend most of their time on the ground, males often call from elevated perches.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 01, 1997Not all videos have soundMale
Plump, short-legged game bird with unusual forward-facing crest. Belly is scaled black and white with a chestnut patch at the center. Black face is sharply outlined in white and the crown is rich brown.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 09, 2017Female
Often found on the ground near shrubs or other cover. Female has plainer gray-brown upperparts than male.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 09, 2017Male and female
Typically occurs in flocks or coveys of males, females, and young birds. Coveys can consist of 20 to 100 or more birds.
© Mike Ross / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 28, 2015Male
Each covey usually posts a lookout—often an adult male—to watch for predators while the rest of the group feeds or rests.
© Jeffrey Thomas / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 20, 2015Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Quail(Order: Galliformes, Family: Odontophoridae)
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