Montezuma Quail
Cyrtonyx montezumae
The Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is a uncommon new world quail found in 2 countries, weighing about 185 g. The Montezuma quail is a stubby, secretive New World quail of Mexico and some nearby parts of the United States.
About the Montezuma Quail
The Montezuma quail is a stubby, secretive New World quail of Mexico and some nearby parts of the United States. It is also known as Mearns's quail, the harlequin quail, and the fool quail.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Montezuma Quail sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, December, with peak activity in August. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Montezuma Quail?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Montezuma Quail?
- The Montezuma Quail is a medium sized bird weighing about 185 g.
- Where can you see a Montezuma Quail?
- The Montezuma Quail occurs in 2 countries, including the United States and Mexico.
- What does a Montezuma Quail sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Montezuma Quail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Montezuma Quail?
- The Montezuma Quail is most easily confused with the Ocellated Quail.
Learn the Montezuma Quail for real
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