Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Small and rotund with obvious teardrop-shaped plumes protruding from forehead. Looks gray and brown at a distance; look for buffy belly with a black patch. Males have black face and longer, more curled crest than females. Usually seen in flocks running on the ground in deserts, often close to dense thickets for cover. Well-accustomed to humans in many areas; a frequent visitor to feeders. Listen for loud wailing calls and various clucks and chuckles. Separated from similar California Quail by range; also note Gambel’s lacks scaly pattern on belly and has brighter chestnut-colored crown and sides.
Identification
The Callipepla gambelii birds are easily recognized by their top knots and scaly plumage on their undersides. Gambel's quail have bluish-gray plumage on much of their bodies, and males have copper feathers on the top of their heads, black faces, and white stripes above their eyes. The bird's average length is 11 in (28 cm) with a wingspan of 14–16 in (36–41 cm). These birds have relatively short, rounded wings and long, featherless legs. Its diet consists primarily of plant matter and seeds.<p>Gambel's quail can be commonly confused with California quail due to similar plumage. They can usually be distinguished by range, but when this does not suffice, California quail have a more scaly appearance and the black patch on the lower breast of the male Gambel's quail is absent in the California quail. The two species are sister taxa which diverged during the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene, 1 to 2 mya.
Taxonomy
There are two recognized subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Callipepla gambelii
- Authority
- (Gambel, 1843)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Genus
- Callipepla
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Gambel's quail primarily move about by walking and can move surprisingly fast through brush and undergrowth. They are a non-migratory species and are rarely seen in flight. Any flight is usually short and explosive, with many rapid wingbeats, followed by a slow glide to the ground.In the late summer, fall, and winter, the adults and immature young congregate into coveys of many birds. In the spring, Gambel's quail pair off for mating and become very aggressive toward other pairs. The chicks are decidedly more insectivorous than adults, gradually consuming more plant matter as they mature. Gambel's quail are monogamous and rarely breed in colonies. The female typically lays 10–12 eggs in a simple scrape concealed in vegetation, often at the base of a rock or tree. Incubation lasts from 21–23 days, usually performed by the female and rarely by the male. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest with their parents within hours of hatching.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-backed Needletail
Hirundapus giganteus
A very large swift with broad wings pinched at the base, a protruding front, and a bulky rear. Short tail has well-defined spines that can be seen even in fast flight. It has blackish-brown upperparts with a pale-brown saddle, often difficult to make out; the underparts from the throat to the lower breast are dark brown, ending in a well-demarcated deep “V” that contrasts strongly with the white belly, vent, and undertail. When seen well, it shows white lores, a feature absent in other large needletails. It has an extremely fast and powerful flight and hence can suddenly appear from nowhere and disappear quickly.
Blackthroat
Calliope obscura
A somberly-colored robin which breeds in dense bamboo thickets. Male is slate-gray above (only a hint of blue may be detected in good lighting) with a white belly and black bib. Female is brown with a paler belly and a rusty-brown tail. Forages on the ground and in low bushes like most other small robins. Shy, usually keeping close to cover. Song is a series of distinct, separated phrases consisting of bright fluid warbling, high buzzy trills, and buzzy warbling.
Costa Rican Warbler
Basileuterus melanotis
Small understory warbler, dull buffy-brown overall. Bold black stripes on head, including cheek patch. Sexes alike. Recalls Worm-eating Warbler but plumper with longer tail; face pattern different. Found in pairs or small flocks moving through the forest understory. Often with a mixed-species flock. Energetic twittering song is a good clue that there’s a flock nearby.
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