🌎 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 ❤️🦜

California quail
#birds #birdwatching #valleyquail

🌎 California quail (Callipepla californica) The California quail (Callipepla californica), also known as the California valley quail or Valley quail, is a plump, short-necked bird with a distinctive forward-curving crest. Males have a black face with white stripes, while females are more subdued in colour. They are commonly found in brushy areas, where they forage for seeds and insects in groups known as "coveys." These social birds are often seen scratching the ground, dusting themselves, or perching on shrubs. Seven subspecies are recognised. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Distribution: Western North America Class: Aves (Birds) Order: Galliformes (Turkeys, Chickens, Quails) Family: Odontophoridae (New World quails) Genus: Callipepla (Crested quails) Species: C. californica (California quail) CC: LMJE 📷: Photo by echels via Pixabay

🌎 California quail (Callipepla californica) #NorthAmericanBirds | #CaliforniaQuail #CaliforniaValleyQuail #ValleyQuail | #CrestedQuails #NewWorldQuails #Quails 📷: Photo by echels 🦜 #BirdsOfTheWorld #BOTW #birds

Day 41 of #JRBPVirtualTour. The #California #quail (#Callipepla #californica), also known as the #valleyquail, is a small ground-dwelling #bird. They have a curving crest or plume, made of six feathers, that droops forward: black in males and brown in females.