Bird Watcher's Digest: Home Bird Watcher's Digest Magazine The Backyard Birds Newsletter The Bird Watcher's Digest App Bird Watcher's Digest Nature Shop

Bird Identification

Upland Game Birds

in

California Quail

Callipepla californica L 10" (25 cm)

Photo by John Sorensen.

Listen to a California quail.

Despite its name, the California quail is not quite restricted to that state, breeding from extreme southern British Columbia south through Baja California and into Nevada and parts of Idaho and Utah. The male has a black face outlined in white, a red crown, and a curved black crest feather that looks like a reverse question mark. It is separated from the similar Gambel’s quail by its speckled belly. The female is duller and has a smaller crest but also has a speckled belly. It breeds in brushy areas and chaparral and is fairly common in some suburban neighborhoods, where it can be a regular visitor to feeders. The typical call is a ringing Chi-ca-GO, which can be heard for as much as a mile. Family groups in the back yard are frequently heard giving a variety of soft clucking noises.

This sound file requires RealPlayer. Bird song courtesy of Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio.

Wading Birds

SECTION FEATURES - FESTIVAL

You Might Like

Timelapse PlantCam

Watch your plants grow in fast-forward with the new Timelapse PlantCam. The PlantCam is rugged and weatherproof, and automatically takes photos and videos at set time intervals. It then stitches the photos together to create a video showing in minutes or seconds what usually can't be seen with the naked eye. The result is a seamless movie of your plants growing! Only $79.95 in our store!

Buy now »

Hummingbirds of the Backyard DVD

Come along with Sheri Williamson, author of the Peterson Guide to Hummingbirds, on this fascinating video journey into the secret lives of North America's favorite birds. She'll introduce you to 13 species that nest in the U.S. and Canada and she'll show you how to attract them to your yard. Running time is approximately 50 minutes. Only $19.99 in our store!

Buy now »

The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America

This lively guide is an invitation to kids to get outside and look at birds. Unlike field guides for adults, which can be overwhelming, this one provides just the right amount of information to be useful and fun. Loaded with color photographs, drawings, interesting facts, range maps and an easy-to-use species checklist, it's the perfect companion for hours of birdwatching fun. Only $14.95 in our store!

Buy now »