Gambel's Quail

Description: This desert-dwelling quail resembles the California quail and has a teardrop-shaped plume; however, it does not have a scaled feather pattern on its chest and belly. The male has a chestnut crown, a black face, and a white headband and chinstrap. The neck and chest are blue-gray, the mid-chest is white, and the lower chest-to-belly area is black. It has a gray-brown back and chestnut sides. The hen has a smaller plume and a gray-brown head. Average size: 9-11 inches. Average weight: 5 ½ - 6 ½ ounces. Males are slightly larger than hens.

Science: Of all quail, Gambel’s quail are the most tolerant of hot, dry conditions and the most vulnerable to cold. They are found in the deep southwestern United States and Mexico and are often seen along the bases of desert mountains where more consistent rainfall encourages new plant growth, which then mixes with other desert plants to produce tall, thick cover such as creosote, mesquite, saltbrush, and others. These quail use these plants for food and cover and are able to get water from succulents. They usually spend their lives in a small radius, eating mesquite beans, juniper berries, the fruit from prickly pear cactus, and seeds and leaves from other desert plants. They form coveys of up to forty birds and will form much larger groups later in the season. Their call is similar to that of the California quail, but usually has four notes: “chi-CA-go-go.” The population fluctuates with rainfall, though it is believed to be stable over the long term.

Hunting: These birds are notorious for running instead of flushing. Many hunters look for heavy grass and brush where birds take cover in a group. In these conditions, dogs are almost mandatory, and hunters tend to choose breeds that are heat-tolerant. As birds often flush individually, hunters will continue to hunt an area even if only one bird flushes. The eating quality is excellent: the flesh is tender and mild.