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Difference between revisions of "California Quail" - BirdForum Opus

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(add photo of female + ref. for subspecies)
(Attempt to disguise some copied text. Some deleted text replaced. References)
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[[Image:California_Quail.jpg|thumb|450px|right|'''Male'''.  Photo by digishooter.<br/>Photo taken: [[California]], USA.]]
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[[Image:California_Quail.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male<br />Photo by {{user|digishooter|digishooter}}<br />[[California]], [[USA]], December 2006]]
 
;[[:Category:Callipepla|Callipepla]] californica
 
;[[:Category:Callipepla|Callipepla]] californica
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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The average weight of a California Quail is between 150.6 g to 189.5 g (5 - 7 oz.). Males are slightly heavier. An adult California Quail grows to be 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. It has a distinctive black and white pattern on its face and its belly has black and brown feather tips which makes the California Quail look like it has a scaled under part. Its overall colour is blue-grey and brown. It has a chestnut crown with streaking on its flanks. The California Quail has a black bill and grey legs. Sexes are dimorphic. The males have a black throat and the females have more of a greyish throat with black streaks. The California Quail can be identified with its prominent teardrop-shaped plume or a double plume coming off its forehead. An immature California Quail is mostly greys and browns which gives it a cryptic look.
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150.6 g to 189.5 g (5 - 7 oz.) 25 cm (9.8 in) Males slightly heavier<br />
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*Mainly blue-grey and brown plumage
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*Distinctive black and white face pattern
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*Black and brown feather tips on belly giving a scaly appearance
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*Chestnut crown
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*Streaked flanks
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*Black bill
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*Grey legs<br />
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[[Image:d05_815.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br />North-eastern [[Nevada]], [[USA]]]]
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Sexes are dimorphic<br />
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'''Males''' have a black throat; '''females''' a greyish throat with black streaks
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*Prominent teardrop-shaped plume or a double plume coming off its forehead<br />
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'''Immature''': mostly greys and browns which gives it a cryptic look
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Western [[North America]] from extreme southwest [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]] to Baja California, [[Mexico]].
 
Western [[North America]] from extreme southwest [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]] to Baja California, [[Mexico]].
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[[Image:d05_815.jpg|thumb|350px|right|'''Female'''.  Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br/>Location: NE [[Nevada]], [[USA]].]]
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Eight subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
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Eight subspecies are recognized:
 
*''C. c. californica'' in [[Mexico]] and [[Oregon]]
 
*''C. c. californica'' in [[Mexico]] and [[Oregon]]
 
*''C. c. orecta'' in [[California]] and [[Oregon]]
 
*''C. c. orecta'' in [[California]] and [[Oregon]]
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*''C. c. achrustera'' in southern Baja, [[Mexico]]
 
*''C. c. achrustera'' in southern Baja, [[Mexico]]
 
*''C. c. decolorata'' in Baja, [[Mexico]]
 
*''C. c. decolorata'' in Baja, [[Mexico]]
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Shrub, open woodlands.  
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Dense vegetation near water at low altitudes.
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Replaced in montane forest by the [[Mountain Quail]] and in desert by the [[Gambel's Quail]].
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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* '''Diet:''' includes seeds, leaves, berries and insects.
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====Diet====
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* '''Breeding''': The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation; 12 eggs are laid.  
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The diet includes seeds, leaves, berries and insects.
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====Breeding====
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The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation. The clutch consists of up to 12 eggs.  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#summagallicana
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#Wikipedia
 
{{Ref}}
 
{{Ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Callipepla+californica}}  
 
{{GSearch|Callipepla+californica}}  
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Callipepla]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Callipepla]]

Revision as of 19:11, 26 September 2010

Male
Photo by digishooter
California, USA, December 2006
Callipepla californica

Identification

150.6 g to 189.5 g (5 - 7 oz.) 25 cm (9.8 in) Males slightly heavier

  • Mainly blue-grey and brown plumage
  • Distinctive black and white face pattern
  • Black and brown feather tips on belly giving a scaly appearance
  • Chestnut crown
  • Streaked flanks
  • Black bill
  • Grey legs
Female
Photo by Gary Clark
North-eastern Nevada, USA

Sexes are dimorphic
Males have a black throat; females a greyish throat with black streaks

  • Prominent teardrop-shaped plume or a double plume coming off its forehead

Immature: mostly greys and browns which gives it a cryptic look

Distribution

Western North America from extreme southwest British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California to Baja California, Mexico.

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

Eight subspecies are recognized:

Habitat

Dense vegetation near water at low altitudes.

Replaced in montane forest by the Mountain Quail and in desert by the Gambel's Quail.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes seeds, leaves, berries and insects.

Breeding

The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation. The clutch consists of up to 12 eggs.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. summagallicana
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=California_Quail&oldid=161226’
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