Gambel's quail Callipepla gambelii

Identification Tips:

• Length: 8.5 inches
• Small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird
• Immature similar to female

Adult male:

• Black, forward-tilting and teardrop-shaped crest
• Black forehead
• Chestnut crown
• Black face
• White border to face
• Blue-gray nape, chest, back and upperwings
• Yellowish belly with black central portion
• Rusty-brown flanks with white streaks

Adult female:

• Short, curved, dark brown, teardrop-shaped crest
• Gray head, chest, back and upperwings
• Chestnut flanks with white streaks
• Pale belly
• Lacks black throat of male

Similar species:

Mountain Quail has chestnut face, straight head plume and gray crown. California Quail has 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.