🌎 California Quail (Callipepla californica) The California Quail is a plump, small to medium-sized bird recognizable by its distinctive, forward-curving tear-drop plume (black on males, smaller and brown on females) and a scaled belly pattern. Males boast a sharp black face bordered in white, and a gray-blue chest, whereas females are primarily brown and camouflaged. They are highly social, living in groups called coveys across the brushy habitats, chaparral, and open woodlands of the western US and Baja California. These birds primarily forage on the ground, consuming seeds and leaves. Around five to seven subspecies are recognised. Gemini 3 (Edited) Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Fun fact: They are known for their characteristic "Chicago" call and their tendency to run rather than fly when threatened. 📷: Photo by Nel_Botha via Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/california-quail-male-crest-bird-4924232/ QDBB

🌎 California Quail (Callipepla californica) #NorthAmericanBirds | #CaliforniaQuail #CaliforniaValleyQuail #ValleyQuail | #CrestedQuails #NewWorldQuailFamily #Quails #GallinaceousBirds 📷: Photo by Nel_Botha🦉 #MyBirdcards | #birdsoftheworld #birds ❤️🦜

🌏 Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) The male Lady Amherst's pheasant (pictured) is striking, reaching 100-120 cm with an 80 cm tail. It boasts a red crest, black-and-white nuchal cape, green back, blue wings, yellow rump, and white underparts. Females are duller mottled brown for camouflage. Native to southwestern China and northern Myanmar, and sometimes known as the Chinese Copper Pheasant, they inhabit dense, dark forests with thick undergrowth. Introduced populations once existed in England but are now thought to have died out, with occasional sightings being put down to escapees from private collections. These pheasants are shy and elusive. They primarily feed on the ground (grains, leaves, invertebrates) but roost in trees at night. While capable fliers, they prefer running, but can burst into flight with a distinctive wing sound when startled. Males display their cape and emit a gruff call during breeding. 2.5 Flash (Edited) Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) 📷: Photo by Sweetaholic via Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/diamond-pheasant-pheasant-bird-370605/ OWSY

🌏 Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) #AsianBirds | #LadyAmherstsPheasant #ChineseCopperPheasant #ChrysolophusAmherstiae | #Pheasants #PheasantFamily #GallinaceousBirds 📷: Photo by Sweetaholic🦜 #birdsoftheworld #birds

🌎 Great curassow (Crax rubra) The great curassow is a large, pheasant-like bird with marked sexual dimorphism. Males are glossy black with a curly crest, white belly, and a prominent yellow knob on their bill. Females exhibit three color morphs: barred, rufous, or dark brown, with a black-and-white crest. They are distributed throughout Neotropical rainforests, from eastern Mexico through Central America to western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Primarily ground-dwelling, they forage for fruits, seeds, and arthropods, but roost and nest in trees. Monogamous, they often travel in pairs or small groups, communicating with grunts and booming male calls. 2.5 Flash (Edited) Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1) 📷: Photo by FINTANOBRIEN via Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/great-curassow-bird-costa-rica-1080725/ JCFQ

🌎 Great curassow (Crax rubra) #CentralAmericanBirds #SouthAmericanBirds #NorthAmericanBirds | #GreatCurassow #CraxRubra | #Curassows #ChachalacaFamily #GallinaceousBirds 📷: Photo by FINTANOBRIEN🦜 #birdsoftheworld #birds