Elegant Quail vs Gambel's Quail

Elegant Quail

Callipepla douglasii

Medium177 gShrubland

The elegant quail grows to a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The male has a distinctive long, straight, golden-buff crest (the female's crest is grey). In other ways the sexes are similar in appearance, being mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown and white, and in the case of the male, in reddish-brown as well. The beak is black, the irises are brown and the legs dark grey to black. This bird can be distinguished from the otherwise similar scaled quail (C. squamata), California quail (C. californica), and Gambel's quail (C.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Jovani León · Song · Bachomobempo, Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Francisco Farriols Sarabia · CC BY 4.0

Gambel's Quail

Callipepla gambelii

Medium166 gShrubland

The Callipepla gambelii birds are easily recognized by their top knots and scaly plumage on their undersides. Gambel's quail have bluish-gray plumage on much of their bodies, and males have copper feathers on the top of their heads, black faces, and white stripes above their eyes. Their average length is 11 in (28 cm) with a wingspan of 14–16 in (36–41 cm). These birds have relatively short, rounded wings and long, featherless legs. Their diet consists primarily of plant matter and seeds. Gambel's quail can be commonly confused with California quail due to their similar plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Henry · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Elegant Quail and Gambel's Quail.