These vary in size, typically ranging from 25 to 40 birds but coveys in excess of 1000 birds have been reprted. In fall, California Quail are quite social and travel in small groups, or coveys. Status: wild 83 months Bird Banding Laboratory ( "Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia", 1972 Leopold, 1977) Chicks hatch synchronously and begin running about within an hour of hatching (precocial) (Leopold 1977 Grizmek's Animal Encyclopedia 1972). In the event of the female's death, the male may assume incubation duties. Breeding season Breeding occurs between May and July.įemales incubate the eggs with the male close at hand to tend to her.Breeding interval Breeding occurs once yearly.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).( "Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia", 1972 Leopold, 1977 National Geographic, 1999) The eggs are creamy white in color with light golden brown spots. Eggs are pointed ovals which measure on average 31.6 by 24.1 mm (1.24 by. They can lay from 6 to 28 eggs, with 13 to 17 eggs being the average. Their nests are made in shallow scrapes in the ground lined with grass. If California quail do not successfully nest on their first attempt, they then make a second nesting attempt later in the summer. Females lay their eggs between May and June. These three months are when viable sperm is at its highest concentration in males. The most typical time for egg fertilization is during May, June, and July. The blood stream then carries these hormones to the gonads, which initiates the growth and development of ovaries and testes. When the winter days start to lengthen, the pituitary glands of California quail start to release gonadotropic hormones. Immature California quail have general coloration of mostly greys and browns which gives it a cryptic look (National Geographic 1999 World Book 2000 Handbook of the Birds of the World. California quail can be identified by their prominent teardrop-shaped plume or a double plume on the forehead. The males have a black throat and the females have more of a greyish colored throat with black streaks. California quail have black bills and grey legs. The crown is chestnut colored with streaking along the sides. The overall color is blue-grey and brown. They have a distinctive black and white pattern on the face and belly has black and brown feather tips which makes the California quail look like it has scaled underparts. An adult California quail grows to be 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. They can also live in brushland and agricultural land (National Geographic 1999 Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 2).Īverage weight of California quail is between 150.6 g to 189.5 g (5 - 7 oz.). California quail prefer living in open woodlands, bushy foothills, valleys with streams, and suburbs. It has also been introduced in Chile, New Zealand, and British Columbia (National Geographic: Field Guide to the Birds of North America 1999 Leopold 1977).Ĭalifornia quail are most commonly found in the west coast regions of the United States. Because of this, the California Quail has been successfully introduced to other regions of the United States such as Northern Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah. The California Quail is kept as a pet and is favored as a game bird. Its original range stretched from Baja California to a small portion of Western Nevada and the southern counties of Oregon. Western United States, British Columbia, Chile, and New Zealand: The California Quail Callipepla californica can be found in the Pacific coast region of the United States.
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