Bird guideCalifornia Quail

One of their daily communal activities is a dust bath.

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyNew World Quail
SizeTiny
RarityRare
HabitatUsually seen in flocks running on the ground in open, scrubby habitats.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from October to December.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Greg Irving

Range map

Range map

20approx hotspots
217approx records
3states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Looks gray and brown at a distance, with white streaks on the sides and a scaly belly. Males have black face and longer, more curled crest than females. Separated from similar Gambel’s Quail by range; also note California has scaly belly with rusty (not black) patch and duller brown crown and sides. Native to western North America including Baja California; well-established introduced populations in Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Behavior

Usually seen in flocks running on the ground in open, scrubby habitats. Listen for frequent, three-noted call, audible at long distances.

Regional timing

Tasmania
Peak: October to November53 records
Victoria
Peak: December5 records
Queensland
Peak: August4 records
New South Wales
Peak: August to September19 records
South Australia
Peak: January1 records
Northern Territory
Peak: October to December134 records
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