Gambel's quail

Gambel's quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the Colorado River region of Baja California. Gambel's quail is named in honor of William Gambel, a 19th-century naturalist and explorer of the Southwestern United States.

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Distribution

Region

Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico

Typical Environment

Common in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, especially in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, Nevada, western Texas, and adjacent Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua. It favors desert scrub with mesquite, acacia, and cactus, and is frequent along washes and riparian thickets. Birds also use agricultural edges and suburban desert neighborhoods where cover and seed are available. They remain close to dense shrubs and frequently move in groups between feeding and resting areas.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Arid

Characteristics

Size24–28 cm

Wing Span32–38 cm

Male Weight0.19 kg

Female Weight0.16 kg

Life Expectancy4 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 3/5

Useful to know

Gambel's quail are highly social, spending much of the year in coveys that scurry between cover rather than taking long flights. Both sexes sport a forward-curling topknot, with males showing a bold black face and belly patch. They thrive in arid scrub where water is scarce, getting moisture from succulent plants and fruits. The species is named for 19th-century naturalist William Gambel.

Gallery

Female with a white-winged dove

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with explosive flushes, then quick glides to cover

Social Behavior

Outside the breeding season they form coveys of 10–20 or more birds that forage and roost together. Pairs form in spring; nests are shallow ground scrapes hidden under shrubs or grass tussocks. Clutches are large, and family groups sometimes merge into crèches for collective chick guarding.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

The primary call is a loud, ringing series of ka-KAA notes, often given by sentry birds from elevated perches. Soft clucks and contact peeps keep covey members coordinated while foraging. Alarm calls are sharp, rapid chip notes when flushed.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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