Gambel's Quail
Author: Patsy Jones

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Species: Callipepla gambelii

Description:
Gambel's Quail is a small, plump, grayish bird with a short black plume curving forward from the crown. They range in size from 10-11 ½” (25-29 cm). Males have a black face, chin, and throat with a white outline. In addition, they have a black patch on a sandy-buff colored belly. Their flanks and the crown of their heads are chestnut-colored. Females have the black crest, but lack the striking head and facial markings. Overall, they are duller in color.

Up close, Gambel's Quail are very striking birds. They fade into the brush and shadows from a distance, however, which makes them difficult to see.

Geographic range:
Gambel's Quail are native only to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They live and breed year-round in the deserts from southeastern California to western Texas.

Habitat:
These ground-dwelling birds live in the Southwest's deserts, shrublands, and woodlands. Like other desert animals, they must solve the problem of long periods of time with little water and vegetation. To compensate, Gambel's quail can survive extreme dehydration by losing up to half their body weight during times of drought. They eat green, soft plants when available and save water during dry times by recycling water from their droppings.

Food Web:
Gambel's Quail eat green vegetation when available as well as seeds and fruits. They sometimes catch insects and other small arthropods or even small lizards. Large groups of Gambel's Quail will gather at any available drinking places, then feed for several hours in good weather.

Since they are ground-dwelling birds, their major predators are reptiles and birds of prey such as hawks.

Reproduction and Development:
Gambel's Quail are monogamous. Throughout most of the year, they live in groups called coveys with 10 to 20 birds. In the spring, they break up into pairs and the males begin to sing from the top of fence posts or bushes to attract the females. In years with more rainfall, they may lay several dozen eggs. In times of extreme drought they may not lay any eggs at all. Typically, however, they lay 9-14 eggs.

Their nests are laid in the ground in areas sheltered by bushes. Nests are built by the females and are lined with grasses, sticks, and feathers. Eggs are dull white, buff, or pink-buff irregularly blotched, spotted, or dotted with purples and browns. Eggs are incubated by the female for 21 to 24 days. Young leave the nest shortly after hatching. They are fed by both parents.

Behavior:
Gambel's Quail are highly gregarious and live in large groups or coveys during the autumn and winter. In the spring, while raising their young, family groups are often seen moving from place to place on the ground led by the male while the female parent brings up the rear. When disturbed, they run for cover and may confuse predators by rushing into flight with each bird flying in a different direction. They usually prefer to walk instead of flying, but they can fly with explosive bursts of speed over short distances.

Their call is low grunting sounds similar to piglets or light clucking notes. They may make a three-syllabled qua-quer-go, or Chi-ca'go. They make a location call if their mate goes out of visible range.

Conservation:
Gambel's Quail are common in the desert regions of the Southwest. Dry years often decrease reproductive rates, but they are not endangered.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves, Birds
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae
Genus: Gallipepla
Species: Callipepla gambelii

References:
Alsop, Fred J. III. 2001. Birds of North America. New York: DK Publishing, 998 p.

Forshaw, Joseph; Steve Howell, Terence Lindsey, Rich Stallcup. 1994. Birding. Time Life Inc., 288 p.

Peterson, Roger T. 1990. A Field Guide to Western Birds. Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 432 p.

Tweit, Susan J. 1992. The Great Southwest Nature Factbook. Seattle : Alaska Northwest Books, 223 p.

Related Terms: Chordata, Aves