The California quail, also known as the California valley quail or Valley quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. These birds have a curving crest, plume or topknot made of six feathers, that droops forward: black in males and brown in females; the flanks are brown with white streaks. Males have a dark brown cap and a black face with a brown back, a grey-blue chest and a light brown belly. Females and immature birds are mainly grey-brown with a light-colored belly. Their closest relative is Gambel's quail, which has a more southerly distribution and a longer crest at 2.5 in (6.4 cm), a brighter head and lacks the scaly appearance of the California quail. The two species separated about 1–2 million years ago, during the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene. It was selected as the state bird of California in 1931.
Region
Western North America
Typical Environment
Native from southern Oregon and Idaho through California and into northwestern Baja California, inhabiting chaparral, coastal scrub, oak woodlands, foothills, and open grasslands. They readily use edges of agriculture and suburban parks with dense shrub cover for escape. The species has been introduced to Hawaii, New Zealand, Chile, and parts of British Columbia where it persists in similar semi-open habitats. Dense low cover and nearby water are key habitat features.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
California quail are famed for their forward-drooping topknot and the male’s three-note “chi-ca-go” call. They form tight-knit coveys outside the breeding season and perform dust baths in communal sites. Selected as California’s state bird in 1931, they have also been widely introduced beyond their native range.
Male C. c. achrustera in La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
A California quail egg in the collection of Jacques Perrin de Brichambaut
A chick in Wellington, New Zealand (introduced species)
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive flush
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season they gather in coveys that can include dozens of individuals, keeping contact with soft clucks. Pairs form in spring; nests are shallow ground scrapes hidden under shrubs or grasses, and broods sometimes combine in crèches. Adults perform distraction displays to lead predators away from chicks.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The male’s distinctive three-syllable “chi-ca-go” call carries across scrub and grassland. Both sexes give soft clucks and sharp alarm notes; coveys maintain contact with low conversational calls.
Plumage
Compact, rounded quail with finely scaled gray breast and belly, bold streaked flanks, and a forward-drooping topknot. Males show a striking black face bordered by white, bluish-gray chest, brown back, and often a dark central belly patch; females are browner and more uniformly scaled with a smaller brown topknot.
Diet
Primarily seeds and leaves of forbs and grasses, supplemented by buds, flowers, berries, and small grains. Insects such as beetles, ants, and grasshoppers are especially important for chicks, providing protein for growth. They ingest grit to aid digestion and will visit water sources when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground along brushy edges, under shrubs, and in open patches near cover. Frequently uses agricultural margins, roadsides, and suburban gardens with dense hedges or thickets.
