Scaled Quail 



Another upland game bird of our Southwest is the unusual 

 Mearns' Quail. Its little clown face and elaborately patterned 

 back makes it one of our handsomest quail. A gentle bird, it 

 walks quietly annong the rank grasses of the mountain woodland. 

 It stops often to dig in the earth with its large, strong feet. 

 When alarmed it squats and freezes. Depending onits protective 

 coloring to hide it, it does not fly until almost stepped on. 

 Then it literally explodes under your feet. This quail is a late 

 nester- -usually nesting in August. It waits for the late summer 

 rains to revive the dry vegetation before it brings off its broods. 



Gambel's Quail 



The beautiful Gambel's Quail or Desert Quail live in hot, dry 

 deserts of the Southwest. They are most often found in brushy 

 desert washes and mountain ravines or indense groves of willow 

 or mesquite bordering streams. They live in wild, rough country 

 - among thorny shrubs. When frightened, they run swiftly taking 

 refuge in almost inaccessible places in mountain canyons or 

 along rock-strewn creek banks. Nesting is dictated by the 

 weather. The Gambel's Quail wait for the late summer rains and 

 the greening-up of the desert plants before they nest. In very 

 dry years they do not nest. 



p-s ''•^-•t^- 

 California Quail 



The shy Mountain Quail of our Pacific coast mountains is 

 America's largest quail. It is easily known by the long, straight 

 head plume and broad white stripes onits brown sides. Mountain 

 Quail summer in the high mountains and winter in the lower 

 canyons and foothills. The trip up and down the mountain, often 

 40 miles long, is made on foot. They feed early in the morning 

 and just before dark, scratching as vigorously in the earth as a 

 domestic chicken. They scatter quickly when disturbed, slipping 

 along under cover until a safe distance away before they fly. 



The graceful little California Quail is also a bird of the foot- 

 hills and valleys of the West. Favorite areas are woodlands 

 near weedy, overgrown fields or vineyards and patches of oaks 

 in foothills and along brushy stream banks. Coveys of half -tame 

 birds in their blue -gray plumage and pert blackhead plumes nnay 

 be seen feeding in rural gardens and city parks. Several birds 

 take turns watching as the covey feeds. At night the quail roost 

 in low trees or tall bushes. With approach of the nesting season, 

 the coveys break up as the paired birds leave to assume family 

 duties. The male is a faithful mate and father. If danger threatens 

 he will risk his life to save his brood. When the young are grown 

 the fannily groups combine to form coveys again. 



