Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
The Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a common new world quail found in 3 countries, weighing about 166 g. Gambel's quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family.
About the Gambel's Quail
Gambel's quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the Colorado River region of Baja California. Gambel's quail is named in honor of William Gambel, a 19th-century naturalist and explorer of the Southwestern United States.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
When to see it
The Gambel's Quail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Gambel's Quail?
- The Callipepla gambelii birds are easily recognized by their top knots and scaly plumage on their undersides. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Gambel's Quail?
- The Gambel's Quail is a medium sized bird weighing about 166 g.
- Where can you see a Gambel's Quail?
- The Gambel's Quail occurs in 3 countries, including the United States and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Gambel's Quail?
- The Gambel's Quail is most easily confused with the Scaled Quail, the Elegant Quail and the California Quail.
- Is the Gambel's Quail endangered?
- The Gambel's Quail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Gambel's Quail for real
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