Scaled Quail Gallery
Callipepla squamata
eBird gives this description of the Scaled Quail: Small groups scurry around under cactus and mesquite trees in desert habitats across Mexico and the Southwest US. Plain gray-brown with prominent scalloping on the breast. Short, ‘cotton top’ crest. Lacks black patches on face found on other quail. All About Birds offers this additional descriptive information about the Scaled Quail: Groups of Scaled Quail scurry through the desert grasslands of the southwestern United States, calling softly to each other to stay in contact. These elegant brownish-gray birds have an understated crest with a buffy top and a marvelous pattern of dark brown and gray-buff on the breast and belly. When encountering people or predators, the birds dash away through the brush, or else fly a short distance and reassemble. In spring, males perch in the open on a bush or fence post, singing a short, hoarse whock note.
I saw my first Scaled Quail on Monday, August 31, 2020 during my visit to Christmas Mountains Oasis. I was a little disappointed I did not get better photographs, but I guess that gives me a good reason to go back!
“Cool Facts” about the Scaled Quail from All About Birds:
- The white crest gives the Scaled Quail its colloquial name of “cotton-top.” It is also called “blue quail” because of its bluish-gray breast and back.
- Like other small quail that live in coveys, Scaled Quail sit in circular formations, facing outward, to sleep at night.
- As is true of many birds that inhabit harsh environments, Scaled Quail populations fluctuate because of the effects of weather and climate. Heavy snowfall in winter or prolonged drought in summer can make food unavailable and cause birds to starve. However, under favorable conditions, Scaled Quail reproduce rapidly and become locally abundant.
- In some groups of Scaled Quail there are more juvenile females than juvenile males, but more adult males than adult females. The reasons for these skewed sex ratios are not known.