Elegant Quail

Overview

The elegant quail (Callipepla douglasii) is a New World quail endemic to the Pacific slopes of north-western Mexico. It is a common, mainly ground-dwelling species found in thorny scrub and deciduous forest on the Sierra Madre Occidental.

Identification

• A length of approximately 25 cm (10 in).
• Males possess a distinctive long, straight, golden-buff crest, whereas females have a grey crest.
• Plumage is mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown, and white, with additional reddish-brown markings on males.
• A black beak, brown irises, and dark grey to black legs.

Habitat

Inhabits the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental in north-western Mexico at altitudes up to 1,000 m. Range extends from Sonora and south-western Chihuahua to northern Jalisco, residing in thorny scrub, deciduous forest, open ground, and cultivated fields.

Diet

Forages on the ground during the day, using a "chip-chip" call to maintain contact within a covey. It is more active in the evening at the roosting site and in the morning before setting off to forage, emitting a "cu-cow" call.

Did you know?

The population of elegant quails is thought to be rising because degradation of the forest creates the open areas the species prefers. When disturbed, these birds usually freeze or run through the undergrowth, taking to the wing only with reluctance.