Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a small ground-dwelling bird that is found in the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They can be identified by their distinctive appearance and calls.
Appearance
Gambel’s quail have a rounded, full body shape with a small head and short legs. Their most recognizable feature is their crest or topknot of feathers on their forehead that droops forward. The males have a black crest while females have a gray-brown crest.
These quails have cryptic gray, brown, and black plumage to help them blend into their desert surroundings. Their upperparts are scaled with gray, brown, and buff while their underparts are a solid gray-brown color. They have a dappled light gray breast and black speckles on their belly.
Males have a black face and throat bordered by a white stripe above a brown patch on their breast. Females lack the black and white markings, instead having a plain gray-brown head and breast.
Gambel’s quail have a relatively short, straight, and thin bill that is blackish in color. Their legs and feet are bluish-gray.
Males vs. Females
The most obvious difference between male and female Gambel’s quail is in their crest:
- Males have a black forehead crest that droops forward over their bill.
- Females have a smaller gray-brown colored crest.
Other key differences include:
| Males | Females |
|---|---|
| Black face and throat patch | Plain gray-brown head |
| White stripe above brown breast patch | No white stripe or breast patch |
Range and Habitat
Gambel’s quail are found in hot, arid habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Their range extends from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Texas to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of northern Mexico.
They prefer areas with a combination of dense brush and open ground. Their ideal habitat is desert scrubland with scattered trees, shrubs, and succulents that provide cover and food. They are also found in riparian woodlands along dry washes and canyons. Gambel’s quail tend to avoid areas with tall, dense vegetation.
States
The states where Gambel’s quail are found include:
- California
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Colorado
- Utah
- Nevada
- Texas
Desert Habitats
Specific desert habitats inhabited by Gambel’s quail include:
- Sonoran Desert – southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, Baja California
- Mojave Desert – southern Nevada, southeastern California
- Chihuahuan Desert – southern New Mexico, western Texas, northern Mexico
- Great Basin Desert – western Utah, southern Idaho, eastern Nevada
Behavior
Gambel’s quail have some distinctive behaviors that can aid in identification:
- They typically stay on the ground and prefer to walk rather than fly. When flushed, they only fly short distances.
- They have a sociable nature, travelling together in coveys of 10-20 birds.
- Their diet consists of seeds, leaves, buds, fruits, and insects. They spend much of their time foraging on the ground.
- To stay cool in hot desert climates, they rely on shade and evaporative cooling from their nasal passages.
- They depend on humid microclimates, sticking close to sources of water.
- In very hot weather, they enter a period of inactivity during the day.
- At night, they roost off the ground in bushes or low trees.
- Gambel’s quail form monogamous breeding pairs during mating season.
- The male’s mating call sounds like “ka-KOR-ka, ka-KOR-ka”.
Voice and Calls
The calls of Gambel’s quail are very distinct and can be used to identify them:
- Their most recognizable call is the male’s mating call – a loud, two-noted “ka-KOR-ka” crow.
- The male’s call is often answered immediately by a softer, higher-pitched response from the female.
- Females use a chipper “pit-pit-pit” contact call to gather the brood or maintain contact with a mate.
- When startled, they make a loud, down-slurred “peeee-urrr” alarm whistle.
- Chicks make a high-pitched “zeep” sound.
Listen for the distinctive “ka-KOR-ka” crow of males during breeding season as a tell-tale sign of Gambel’s quail in an area.
Tracks and Signs
Look for these tracks and signs when identifying Gambel’s quail:
- Tracks are approximately 2 inches long, with three short forward-facing toes.
- Their tracks show only the prints of the toes due to their small feet and short stride.
- Tracks are found in dusty or muddy areas where the quail have walked or scratched.
- Look for small conical holes scratched out of the dirt where Gambel’s quail dust bathe.
- Search for quail feathers and dome-shaped ground nests lined with grass in areas where they roost and breed.
Similar Species
Gambel’s quail overlap in range with some other quail species that could potentially be confused:
California Quail
The California quail has a shorter, forward-curling head plume and a scalloped black-and-white throat and face. Males make a “chi-ca-go” call.
Montezuma Quail
The Montezuma quail is larger with spotted plumage. Males lack the black face and throat markings of Gambel’s quail.
Scaled Quail
Scaled quail have a gray throat and breast without black markings. They have a white-tipped crest and lack the Gambel’s quail’s scaly back pattern.
Conclusion
Identifying Gambel’s quail comes down to recognizing their unique combination of physical features, vocalizations, tracks, habitat preferences and behaviors. The male’s distinctive black face markings and drooping forehead crest paired with their harsh “ka-KOR-ka” crows are reliable field marks for these sociable desert birds. Learning to recognize their appearance, calls, signs and habitats takes some practice, but with a little effort, Gambel’s quail can be easily identified by observant birders.
