Montezuma quail
Cyrtonyx montezumae
Identification Tips:
- Small, stocky, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird
- Short, rounded, brown tail
Adult male:
- Bold black and white face pattern
- Buffy crest that projects backward over nape
- Belly dark brown
- Flanks and sides of breast gray with white spots
- Back brown with buffy streaks
- Wing coverts brown with black spots
Adult female:
- Plumage dull brown, darker on upperparts
- Semblance of face pattern of male but mottled brown and buffy
- Buffy crest on nape
Similar species:
The plumage and head shape are quite unlike any other quail. Female
somewhat similar to female Northern Bobwhite but has a darker belly.