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EXPLORE > ANIMALS > BIRDS
Callipepla californica
This small ground-dwelling bird is highly recognizable throughout the western United States as it is a favorite subject for photographers, artists and filmmakers. The quail’s body is round and has a very short neck. The flanks are brown streaked with white. Male birds have a brown cap, a black face and a blue-grey breast. Females lack the striking color variations and are dull gray-brown with a lighter belly. The tail feathers are short and form a sharp point. One of the quail’s most striking features is the plume which curves forward from the top of the head. The plume is black in males and brown in females.
California quail are highly sociable, living in small flocks known as “coveys.” They engage in a variety of communal rituals — including bathing, foraging and sleeping — always with some members standing guard to watch for predators. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, leaves and insects. The quail will often produce a soft trilling sound which allows them to locate each other and stay in a group.
They are a non-native species in Oregon, transplanted here during the 19th century as a game bird. In Oregon, they are usually known as “valley quail.”
This is the state bird of California.
Range and Habitat
The quail is found only in the western United States, Canada and Baja California (Mexico). Their habitat can vary widely and may include sagebrush prairie, desert, chaparral, oak woodlands and forests. The bird is well adapted to urban areas and coveys can often be seen foraging in parks, gardens, yards or by the side of the road. They are widely distributed in Oregon and can often be found in sagebrush country, riparian areas and near agricultural lands.
Conservation Status
Common.
Callipepla californica
This small ground-dwelling bird is highly recognizable throughout the western United States as it is a favorite subject for photographers, artists and filmmakers. The quail’s body is round and has a very short neck. The flanks are brown streaked with white. Male birds have a brown cap, a black face and a blue-grey breast. Females lack the striking color variations and are dull gray-brown with a lighter belly. The tail feathers are short and form a sharp point. One of the quail’s most striking features is the plume which curves forward from the top of the head. The plume is black in males and brown in females.
California quail are highly sociable, living in small flocks known as “coveys.” They engage in a variety of communal rituals — including bathing, foraging and sleeping — always with some members standing guard to watch for predators. Their diet consists of seeds, berries, leaves and insects. The quail will often produce a soft trilling sound which allows them to locate each other and stay in a group.
They are a non-native species in Oregon, transplanted here during the 19th century as a game bird. In Oregon, they are usually known as “valley quail.”
This is the state bird of California.
Range and Habitat
The quail is found only in the western United States, Canada and Baja California (Mexico). Their habitat can vary widely and may include sagebrush prairie, desert, chaparral, oak woodlands and forests. The bird is well adapted to urban areas and coveys can often be seen foraging in parks, gardens, yards or by the side of the road. They are widely distributed in Oregon and can often be found in sagebrush country, riparian areas and near agricultural lands.
Conservation Status
Common.
