Mystery Bird: Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii

[Mystery bird] Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 2005 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2005:11:25 09:28:46
Exposure Time: 1/249
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 200

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:

A plump, somewhat long-tailed chicken-like bird on a desert substrate can only be a quail. Distinguishing some of the New World quail can be surprisingly subtle, but fortunately, here in the desert southwest where this photo was taken, the species involved tend to be relatively confiding, letting us get good looks and make confident identifications.

The streaked flanks and frontal crest let us quickly eliminate most possibilities and concentrate on California and Gambel's Quail. Range really doesn't help us much, as both species are abundant in captivity and frequently escape; California Quail is said to have established feral populations in central Arizona, too. But I'm confident that this is a Gambel's Quail: the nape, breast, and belly are essentially unmarked, and the flank has a strong brown tone. The forehead does not contrast with the crown.

All three of the Callipepla quail are known to hybridize, so it's worth paying attention to that possibility; but I don't see anything in this bird that would raise concerns about its ancestry.

Review all mystery birds to date.

More like this

Well, it's a female quail, which I'm pretty sure is either Gambel's or California. The plumage seems midway between Sibley's illustrations of the two species, but I'm leaning toward Gambel's, based on the "paler and grayer overall" that I think I'm seeing.

Female Gambel's Quail. Note the chestnut sides and lack of "scaled" breast. California quails have scales on the breast.

By Red Dragon (not verified) on 27 Mar 2009 #permalink

You're both wrong. It's a Dan Quail. Note the Bush-iness of its plumage and its look of complete helplessness....

First, Ian's comment gave me a good laugh - thanks. This is certainly a female Gambel's Quail - as per the observations made by Red Dragon. Additionally, unless a California Quail were really geographically challenged, you won't find one in Arizona.

If a Gambel Quail, where is it's "helmet"? Or is it just not showing in the picture?