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California Quail, Callipepla Californica, Is One of Americaʼs Most Interesting Game Birds

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California Quail, Callipepla Californica, Is One of Americaʼs Most Interesting Game Birds EC 1567 • September 2004 $1.00 CaliforniaCallipepla californica Quail by Z. Turnbull and S. Sells he California quail, Callipepla californica, is one of Americaʼs most interesting game birds. It Tis easily recognizable by its loud calls and by the clump of feathers on its head called a topknot. Over the years, this bird has been given several common names, including California quail, valley quail, and California valley quail. It feeds on seeds, insects, and fruit depending on the time of year. Photo: Joyce Gross California quail are easily recognized by their unique topknot. The male’s (left) coloring and topknot are more striking than the female’s (right). Where they live and why California quail adapt easily and can brushy lowlands, valleys, low riparian or live in a lot of very different environ- streamside areas, agricultural lands, and ments. Historically, the birds were located suburbs. They live on grassy slopes and on the West Coast from southern Oregon in valley bottoms in dry desert climates. to the Baja Peninsula in California. They also live in small woodland lots, Where quail are found, there is bound valleys, grasslands, or clearcuts in wetter to be plentiful cover and water. California climates. Because quail need a constant quail need these things in order to eat, supply of water, they often are found near drink, reproduce, and avoid predators. water sources, especially in dry areas. The California quail often is found in Zach Turnbull and Sarah Sells, students in Fisher- ies and Wildlife, Oregon State University. Species description While its forward-curving, tear- on the ground drop-shaped topknot may be its most and fly only distinctive feature, the California when they quail is also recognized by its unique are alarmed. coloration. Males have a dark throat They also surrounded by a white outline, a gray may run chest, and a pattern on their bellies when that looks a bit like scales on a fish. they They have dark brown to gray sides. feel they are in danger. Running Females have a grayish brown head makes sense because flying out of and a lighter, more speckled chest cover leaves a bird exposed to avian than the males. Quail living closer (bird) predators such as hawks and to the coast tend to have a browner falcons. Quail also can be victims of coloration throughout their bodies. mammalian predators such as bob- Quail are about 10 inches long. cats and coyotes, but they often out- Two species of quail are native run or out-maneuver these predators to Oregon—California quail and in dense shrubs. mountain quail. They can be easily Since quail are such social ani- identified by the straight plume on mals, they vocalize often. The birds mountain quail and the forward- have a sharp cry used to locate one curving topknot on California quail. another, which sounds like a high- Mountain quail usually are found at pitched “cu-ca-cow.” When quail are higher elevations and sometimes in feeding and socializing, they often drier habitats such as clearcuts and can be heard at great distances. shrubby areas. The female generally lays any- Quail are very social animals and where from 6 to 28 eggs at a time, live in coveys (family groups) in usually in May to June. The eggs the winter. These groups can range hatch in about 3 weeks. The chicks from a few birds to more begin to fledge (leave the nest) after than 200. The birds about 10 days, although they can spend most of walk just a few hours after hatching. their time Quail are most visible in sum- mer when broods (groups of young) have hatched and family groups are searching for food. Females are eager to find food because they have just completed incubating (sitting on eggs) for 3 weeks and have had little to eat. 2 Creating habitat Food, water, and shelter are the basic requirements for all ani- mals to survive, includ- ing quail. California quail are strongly asso- ciated with water and cover. They feed on a variety of foods. Favorite quail foods that provide seeds, nuts, and berries include the following: • Grasses and legumes (plants in the pea You can create a quail roost by piling brush family) in a wire platform. • Shrubs such as snowberry, huckleberry, Quail need places to rest, called roost salal, blackberry, gooseberry, service- sites, and areas to nest. Large evergreen berry, manzanita, and Oregon grape trees naturally provide this cover. When • Trees such as ash, cascara, oaks, and trees are not available, artifi cial roosts can hazelnut be created by constructing large wire plat- Legumes (pealike) plants are one of forms approximately 6 to 8 feet off the their favorite types of plants. Planting ground. These roosts provide protection these species gives quail a valuable food from most ground-based predators. source and provides soil nutrients that California quail use many forms of help all animals and plants. Some good cover. Blackberry piles, slash timber, high legume species to plant are native vetches grass and shrubs, and thick streamside such as milk vetch and sweet vetch, clo- vegetation can provide cover. Blackberry ver, and lupine. piles make excellent cover throughout the Quail are ground feeders and are year. Unfortunately, common practices attracted to low platform feeders with such as neatly trimming shrubs, mow- cracked corn, millet, and grains such as ing fi elds, and clearing out thick vegeta- oats, rye, wheat, and barley. Donʼt use tion severely limit the ability of quail to platform feeders in areas where cats or thrive in an area because they have little other mammalian predators are common. cover to hide in. If possible, try to leave Many conservation agencies build arti- some areas of taller grass, especially near fi cial water sources called “bird guzzlers.” shrubs or trees. These guzzlers collect water and store it Since it often is hard to view quail due so birds have access to water during dry to their preference for thick cover, you times. You can make your own guzzlers may want to provide separate patches of by digging holes in the ground, lining cover instead of large areas of cover. By them with waterproof material such as providing patches of cover you provide plastic, and then making a ramp into the different types of habitat for many spe- hole to allow access to the water. The guz- cies. Additionally, the open spaces allow zlers will collect rainwater and dew. you to view quail better. 3 Fun facts TheThe CaliforniaCalifornia qquailuail hhasas bbeeneen transplanted to places as far away as Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. Sometimes quail have been seen using other bird nests, such as pheas- ant nests, in which to lay eggs. Young quail begin to fl y when they are only 10 days old. Photo: Rick Harrison In the winter, quail live in family groups called coveys. Coveys can have as many as 200 members! Learn more! Field Guide to the Birds of North Amer- Price, Z. 2000. “Callipepla californica.” ica, 3rd edition. 1999. National Geo- Animal Diversity Web, accessed graphic, Washington, DC. 10 April 2004 (http://animaldiversity. “Woodland Fish and Wildlife: Quail on ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/ Small Woodlands,” 10 April, 2002 information/Callipepla_californica. (http://www.woodlandfi shandwildlife. html). org/pubs/quail.pdf). Additional wildlife publications in this series are available on the OSU Extension Service website at http:// Oregon 4-H extension.oregonstate.edu (choose Wildlife “Publications”). Stewards © 2004 Oregon State University. Quail track illustrations are used courtesy of Kim A. Cabrera. The quail roost illustration on page 3 is used by permission from Land- scaping for Wildlife in the Pacifi c Northwest, University of Washington Press and Washington Department of Wildlife This publication was produced and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State Univer- sity Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials—without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Published September 2004..
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