California Quail
Callipepla californica
Small and rotund with obvious teardrop-shaped plumes protruding from forehead. Looks gray and brown at a distance, with white streaks on the sides and a scaly belly. Males have black face and longer, more curled crest than females. Usually seen in flocks running on the ground in open, scrubby habitats. Listen for frequent, three-noted call, audible at long distances. Separated from similar Gambel’s Quail by range; also note California has scaly belly with rusty (not black) patch and duller brown crown and sides. Native to western North America including Baja California; well-established introduced populations in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
分类信息
There are seven recognized subspecies:
- 学名
- Callipepla californica
- 命名信息
- (Shaw, 1798)
- 目
- Galliformes
- 科
- Odontophoridae
- 属
- Callipepla
分布与栖息地
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
The California quail is a highly sociable bird that often gathers in small flocks known as "coveys". One of their daily communal activities is a dust bath. A group of quail will select an area where the ground has been newly turned or is soft, and using their underbellies, will burrow downward into the soil some one to two inches. They then wriggle about in the indentations they have created, flapping their wings and ruffling their feathers, causing dust to rise in the air. They seem to prefer sunny places in which to create these dust baths. An ornithologist is able to detect the presence of quail in an area by spotting the circular indentations left behind in the soft dirt, some 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) in diameter.<p>They are year-round residents. Although this bird coexists well at the edges of urban areas, it is declining in some areas as human populations increase. They were originally found mainly in the southwestern United States but they have been introduced into other areas including British Columbia, Hawaii, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, New Zealand, and to Norfolk Island and King Island in Australia.These birds forage on the ground, often scratching at the soil. They can sometimes be seen feeding at the sides of roads. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and leaves, but they also eat some berries and insects; for example, Toyon berries are a common food source. If startled, these birds explode into short rapid flight, called "flushing". Given a choice, they will normally escape on foot.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- rising
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Green-bellied Hummingbird
Saucerottia viridigaster
Plain and often confusing hummingbird found along lower to middle slopes of the Andes. Note its limited range in the eastern Andes of Colombia and the Andes of Venezuela. Plumage is mostly green with rusty-brown rump and tail. Its name is deceptive as the belly is typically brown or buff, not green. Similar to Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, but bill is darker and less red, and rump and tail are browner and less rufous. Inhabits forest edge, clearings, and plantations. Birds found in the Tepui region are now considered a separate species, Copper-tailed Hummingbird.
Pygmy Palm Swift
Tachornis furcata
A tiny dark swift with a long, slender, pointed tail. Restricted to the Maracaibo basin of Venezuela, barely slipping over the border into Colombia in Norte de Santander. In flight note the dark body with pale gray throat and belly. Similar to Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, but Pygmy Swift is much smaller and has darker underparts. Usually in groups flying in circles at low levels close to grasslands, open areas, towns, always near palm trees.
Streak-breasted Treehunter
Thripadectes rufobrunneus
This warm brown forest dweller is similar to many other foliage-gleaners and treehunters. Look for the relatively bright orangey throat with streaking on the breast. The bill is all dark. Also note the plain head without an eyebrow. Found in montane forests from 900 to 2500m, where it moves at low to middle heights. Seen singly or in pairs, often with a mixed-species flock. Song is a harsh series of paired notes.
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