Scaled Quail

Callipepla squamata

Also known as:Blue Quail, Cottontop

Explore this bird

Identification

25 cm (10") Fairly common southwestern North America. Dry arid country.

Gray backed, scaled underneath. Crest on head is white tipped. Large coveys form in fall.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Big Dipper 2

Credit: J. N. Stuart

Watch and learn

2 videos

Scaled Quail Calling on a Post

Credit: Bosque Bill

Scaled Quail

Credit: 76BlackNovaoutburst

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 2 rules

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

2 rules

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 · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: 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 ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Blue · 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 · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · 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

result:294-scaled-quail:1:1 Source: 294 Scaled Quail, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

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 · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: 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 ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Blue · 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 · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · 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 ?: Southeastern United States

result:294-scaled-quail:2:1 Source: 294 Scaled Quail, row 2