California Quail

Callipepla californica

Also known as:California Valley Quail

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

25 cm (10") Common. Open western woodlands, stream valleys, brushy foothills, suburbs, parks, estates, farms. State bird for California. Often seen in flocks, feeding on the ground.

Male: distinctive short black tear-drop shaped plume over crown. Scaled underparts. Similar male Gambel's Quail has a plain belly with a black spot.

Female: distinctive short black tear-drop shaped plume over crown. Scaled underparts.

Song: loud emphatic "Chi-ca-go", clucking noises.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

California Quail

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

California Quail (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 5

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:298-california-quail-female:1:1 Source: 298 California Quail (Female), row 1

California Quail (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 5

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:297-california-quail-male:1:1 Source: 297 California Quail (Male), row 1