Mountain Quail

Oreortyx pictus

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Identification

28 cm (11") Western mountain scrublands.

Gray and brown upperparts. Chestnut throat and sides. Sides are boldly barred with white. Gray breast. Distinctive long thin head plume or crest.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: USFWS

Watch and learn

2 videos

Early spring aggression

Credit: ntsees

Mountain quail male/female identification

Credit: ntsees

Where it lives

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 1 variant 1 rule

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

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 3

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · 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 · 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 ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 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:299-mountain-quail:1:1 Source: 299 Mountain Quail, row 1