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Difference between revisions of "California Quail" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:California_Quail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by digishooter.<br/>Photo taken: [[California]], USA.]]
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[[Image:California_Quail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male, nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|digishooter|digishooter}}<br />Wofford Hts., Kern Co., [[California]], [[USA]], December 2006]]
 
;[[:Category:Callipepla|Callipepla]] californica
 
;[[:Category:Callipepla|Callipepla]] californica
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==Identification==
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[[Image:California-Quail-female-7286.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female, subspecies ''C. c. brunnescens''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|blubird|blubird}}<br />Las Gallinas ponds, San Rafael, [[California]], 18 October 2011]]
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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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Sexes are dimorphic<br />
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==Identification==
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'''Males''' have a black throat; '''females''' a greyish throat with black streaks
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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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*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==
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Western [[North America]] from extreme southwest [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]] to Baja California, [[Mexico]].
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Western [[North America]] from extreme southwest [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], [[Nevada]], and [[California]] to Baja California, [[Mexico]]. Introduced populations are found in [[Hawaii]] and [[New Zealand]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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There are 8 subspecies.
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Sometimes placed in genus ''Lophortyx.''
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====Subspecies====
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[[Image:Quail California 2016-07-01 216a.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juveniles<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|ducbucln|ducbucln}}<br />Kelseyville, [[California]], 1 July 2016]]
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Eight subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''C. c. californica:'' Northern [[Oregon]] and western [[Nevada]] to southern [[California]] and Coronados Islands, [[Mexico]]
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*''C. c. orecta:'' Southeastern [[Oregon]] (Warner Valley) and extreme northern [[California]]
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*''C. c. brunnescens:'' Extreme north coastal [[California]] to southern Santa Cruz County
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*''C. c. catalinensis:'' Santa Catalina Island (off southern [[California]])
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*''C. c. canfieldae:'' Owens Valley of east-central [[California]]
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*''C. c. plumbea:'' San Diego County south through northwestern [[Baja California]]
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*''C. c. achrustera:'' Southern [[Baja California]]
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*''C. c. decolorata:'' [[Baja California]] between latitude 25°N and 30°N
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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====
 
The diet includes seeds, leaves, berries and insects.
 
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.
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====Vocalisation====
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Common crowing call is a loud "Chi-CA-go." Also sharp, clucking, clicking  and spluttering notes.
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====Movements====
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Sedentary; maximum movements under 27 km. Dispersal rates increase in response to habitat destruction.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#[http://www.summagallicana.it/lessico/q/quaglia_della_California.htm#California%20Quail Quaglia della California Callipepla californica]
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#Wikipedia contributors. (2020, April 6). California quail. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:18, April 29, 2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=California_quail&oldid=949376865
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#Calkins, J. D., J. M. Gee, J. C. Hagelin, and D. F. Lott (2020). California Quail (''Callipepla californica''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.calqua.01
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#Carroll, J.P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). California Quail (''Callipepla californica''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53343 on 29 April 2020).
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{{Ref}}
  
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The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation; 12 eggs are laid.
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Callipepla+californica}}  
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{{GSearch|Callipepla+californica}}
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Callipepla]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Callipepla]]
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
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<br />

Latest revision as of 07:45, 30 May 2022

Male, nominate subspecies
Photo © by digishooter
Wofford Hts., Kern Co., California, USA, December 2006
Callipepla californica

Identification

Female, subspecies C. c. brunnescens
Photo © by blubird
Las Gallinas ponds, San Rafael, California, 18 October 2011

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

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, Nevada, and California to Baja California, Mexico. Introduced populations are found in Hawaii and New Zealand.

Taxonomy

Sometimes placed in genus Lophortyx.

Subspecies

Juveniles
Photo © by ducbucln
Kelseyville, California, 1 July 2016

Eight subspecies are recognized[1]:

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.

Vocalisation

Common crowing call is a loud "Chi-CA-go." Also sharp, clucking, clicking and spluttering notes.

Movements

Sedentary; maximum movements under 27 km. Dispersal rates increase in response to habitat destruction.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Quaglia della California Callipepla californica
  3. Wikipedia contributors. (2020, April 6). California quail. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:18, April 29, 2020 from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=California_quail&oldid=949376865
  4. Calkins, J. D., J. M. Gee, J. C. Hagelin, and D. F. Lott (2020). California Quail (Callipepla californica), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.calqua.01
  5. Carroll, J.P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). California Quail (Callipepla californica). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53343 on 29 April 2020).

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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