Montezuma Quail
Cyrtonyx montezumae
At about 22 cm (8.75 in), it is one of the shortest quails of North America, although it weighs 122–230 g (4.3–8.1 oz), the same as some Callipepla quails that are somewhat taller. It has an even plumper build and shorter tail than other quails. The bird has a length of 20–23 cm (7.9–9.1 in) and wingspan of 41–43 cm (16–17 in). Both sexes have the back and wing coverts tan with longitudinal light-buff streaks formed by the feather shafts and circular or transversely oblong black spots arranged in bars. A crest on the nape makes the profile distinctively long front-to-back. Voice: The assembly or territorial call is "six to nine notes descending in pitch", "a far-carrying, descending, quavering whinny". The male's "song" for pairing is "an eerie, melancholy, vibrant, descending whistle vwirrrrr" or "an insect-like buzzing that starts at a high pitch and descends". It is given from the ground, whereas other quails sing on such perches as the tops of fenceposts or bushes.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mountain Quail
Oreortyx pictus
The bird's average length is 26–28 cm (10–11 in), with a wingspan of 35–40 cm (14–16 in). They have relatively short, rounded wings and long, featherless legs. These birds are easily recognized by their topknots, which are shorter in the female and change color with the seasons and geographic location of particular populations. They have a brown face, gray breast, brown back and primaries, and heavily white barred underside. Females display greater brown coloring on their dorsal side, a paler red on their undersides, and wider white barring on the flank than their male counterparts.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Montezuma Quail and Mountain Quail.