California quail Callipepla californica

Identification Tips:

• Length: 8 inches
• Small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged ground-dwelling bird
• Immature similar to female

Adult male:

• Black, forward-tilting, teardrop-shaped crest
• Pale buff forehead
• Dark brown cap
• Black face
• White border to face
• Blackish nape stippled with white spotting
• Dark blue-gray chest
• Brown back and upperwings
• Buff belly with darker scaly markings and chestnut center
• Brown flanks with white streaks

Adult female:

• Short, curved, dark brown, teardrop-shaped crest
• Gray or brown head, chest, back, and upperwings
• Chestnut flanks with white streaks
• Pale belly with darker scaly markings

Similar species:

Mountain Quail has chestnut face, unscaled belly, and gray crown. Gambel's Quail lacks pale forehead, stippled nape and scaly belly.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.