California Quail vs Scaled Quail: How to Tell Them Apart

California Quail

Callipepla californica

Medium166 gShrubland

These birds have a curving crest, plume or topknot, longer in males than females. Adult males are gray and brown colored, with a black face outlined by white stripes. Females are a plainer brown color and do not have the facial stripes. In terms of size, this bird typically measures 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) in length, 32–37 cm (13–15 in) in wingspan, and weigh 140–230 g (4.9–8.1 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, Santa Clara, California, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: SarahStierch · CC BY 3.0

Scaled Quail

Callipepla squamata

Medium184 gShrubland

This bird is named for the scaly appearance of its breast and back feathers. Along with its scaly markings, the bird is easily identified by its white crest that resembles a tuft of cotton. It typically measures 25.4–30.5 cm (10.0–12.0 in) in length, 38 cm (15 in) in wingspan, and weighs 177–191 g (6.2–6.7 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Photo by Gary Kramer, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Cropped, dust cleaned up. · Public domain

Where you might meet both

United States Mexico

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: California Quail and Scaled Quail.