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Scaled Quail

Callipepla squamataOrder: GALLIFORMESFamily: Quails (Odontophoridae)
Scaled Quail Portrait
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Range Map for Scaled Quail

Overview

Scaled Quail: Large quail AKA "cottontop," due to its white-tipped gray crest; nape, neck underparts have dark-edged gray and buff feathers creating a distinctly scaled look. Upperparts are plain gray with white stripe at base of wings; sides are gray with short white stripes. Pale brown legs, feet.

Range and Habitat

Scaled Quail: Found primarily in New Mexico, western Texas, and portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Inhabits open landscapes, desert grassland, thorn-scrub and savanna. Populations have declined since the 1940's, perhaps due to habitat loss.

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Voice Text

"QWEUR", "QUEESH", "chur chur", "chuch'er"

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Related Birds:

California Quail
Ruffed Grouse
Gambel's Quail
.

Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Pheasants, Quails and Partridges (Odontophoridae)_blue
Species Callipepla squamata
Length10 - 12 Inches
Wingspan14 Inches

Scaled Quail

Scaled Quail: Large quail AKA "cottontop," due to its white-tipped gray crest; nape, neck underparts have dark-edged gray and buff feathers creating a distinctly scaled look. Upperparts are plain gray with white stripe at base of wings; sides are gray with short white stripes. Pale brown legs, feet.

● Song: "QWEUR", "QUEESH", "chur chur", "chuch'er"

● Foraging & Feeding: Scaled Quail: Consumes a variety of seeds. Takes more insects than other quail, usually on a seasonal basis. Readily takes food from backyard feeding stations where it prefers millet, cracked corn, and safflower.

● Breeding & nesting: Scaled Quail: Monogamous. Nest is a depression lined with grass and leaves where female lays nine to sixteen white eggs with light brown spots. Female incubates for 21 to 23 days, male incubates rarely. Precocial young leave nest soon after hatching, stay with adults until the following spring. Often will not breed in dry years, or away from open water sources.

● Similar species:

Flight Pattern

Alternates between strong flapping flight and gliding, fast, low, direct
Scaled Quail Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Scaled Quail: Found primarily in New Mexico, western Texas, and portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Inhabits open landscapes, desert grassland, thorn-scrub and savanna. Populations have declined since the 1940's, perhaps due to habitat loss.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon but local
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight6.7 Ounces