When I look at quails, I think about the funny little birds in animated cartoons. When I see them in the wild, I still think they are cute and funny-looking little birds.
The first member of the species that I saw was the California Quail, on Vancouver Island in Canada. They are like elegant little chickens, who nod their heads with every step they take. They are the model for the cartoons, with their topknot bouncing away.
California Quail (male)
My next sightings were on trips to the US southwest. Gambel’s Quail coveys are common in the desert areas of cactus and mesquite. They have the same curving topknot as the California Quail, but the Gambel’s Quail have chestnut-red colouring on their sides.
Gambel’s Quail (male)
The Scaled Quail is a blue-gray coloured bird, with dark edges on its body feathers, which creates its scaled look. They have a fluffy, white crest, which has earned them the nickname of “cotton top”. The crest really ups their cuteness factor.
Scaled Quail
These first three species are fairly easy to find and see. Now, we get to a quail that doesn’t want to be seen. The Montezuma Quail is uncommon and quiet. They sit motionless, relying on camouflage. You could walk by one and not know it’s there.
We were in Arizona in 2013 and we were out with a local birder, looking for Gray Hawk. The birder and I returned to the car, pleased with our success in finding that bird. While our birder friend was driving the car, I was still scanning the trees when my husband said a black and white patterned bird just ran across the road in front of our car. Montezuma Quail! The birder and I stopped the car, got out, and searched the grass along the road, but found nothing. My poor husband got dirty looks from me for the next four years, whenever that bird’s name came up. How dare a non-birder get the rare sighting! All was forgiven, when on a subsequent trip to Arizona I had fabulous looks at a male and female, feeding on a sandy hill.
Northern Bobwhite
The final quail I want to mention is the Northern Bobwhite, which is found in eastern North America. It is a chunky bird, with a reddish body and a short tail. The coveys hide in brushy fields. I saw my first Northern Bobwhite in Texas, as they ran across a country road. Here in Florida, I am more likely to hear them make their distinctive “Oh bob-whoit” call, then to see them.
I hope you can get out to see these charming birds. If you do, let me know if you think they are as amusing as I find them.
Note: All photos are from Wikipedia Commons, an online source of copyright-free photos: California Quail by Becky Matsubara; Gambel’s Quail by Polinova; Scaled Quail by Don Faulkner; Northern Bobwhite by Steve Maslowski; Montezuma Quail (top of article) by Alan Schmierer.
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