Gambel's Quail

(Callipepla gambelii)

The Gambel's Quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora. Gambel's quail primarily move about by walking and can move surprisingly fast through brush and undergrowth. They are a non-migratory species and are rarely seen in flight. Any flight is usually short and explosive, with many rapid wing beats, followed by a slow glide to the ground. The Gambel's quail is named in honor of William Gambel, a 19th-century naturalist and explorer of the Southwestern United States. The Callipepla gambelii birds are easily recognized by their top knots and scaly plumage on their undersides.