Plump adult stands upright and has stubby wings, relatively short legs and tail, and forward-curling plume on head. Male has blue-gray upperparts and breast, scaly belly, reddish sides streaked with white, scaly nape, black face with white borders, and dark reddish cap. Female lacks black on face and has reduced head plume. Gambel's Quail has no scaling on belly and is lighter-colored overall.

Length: 25 (cm) Wingspan: 36 (cm)

Voice:

Three-note call; higher and accented in the middle, Chi-CA-go. Also clucking and sharp single notes.

Habitat:

Brushy, scrubby, partly open areas. Suburbs, deserts, clearcuts.

Behavior:

Nest is placed directly on ground. Young are precocial; can follow their parents directly after hatching and are capable of flight when partly grown. California Quail typically walk in meandering paths, pecking at the ground; they are often seen in pairs or small groups. Sometimes a "sentinel" will sit on a fencepost above other birds, alert for predators. Flocks roost by night in dense vegetation.

Feeding:

Forages by scratching and pecking at the ground; eats a variety of seeds, leaves, insects, and occasional fruit. Often visits bird feeders, usually feeding on the ground underneath.