Quails are small, ground-dwelling birds recognized for their plump bodies and often camouflaged plumage. These birds are found across various continents, adapting to a wide range of habitats from grasslands and agricultural fields to deserts and woodlands. Their global presence highlights a remarkable diversity within the group, with different species having distinct native ranges.
Two Worlds of Quails
The term “quail” refers to birds from two distinct taxonomic families. Old World quails belong to the family Phasianidae and are primarily native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. New World quails are part of the family Odontophoridae, found exclusively in the Americas. Despite their similar appearance, these two families are not closely related.
Native Ranges in the Old World
Old World quails inhabit a vast geographical area spanning multiple continents. The Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) has a wide breeding range across the western Palearctic, extending from Europe and northwest Africa into Mongolia and northern India. This species is migratory, traveling south to Africa and southern India for the winter months.
Another Old World species is the Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica), native to East Asia and Russia. Its distribution includes countries like India, Korea, Japan, and China. While some populations remain resident in Japan, many migrate southward to regions such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and southern China during winter. These quails prefer habitats with dense vegetation, such as grassy fields and agricultural areas.
Native Ranges in the New World
New World quails are exclusively found across North, Central, and South America. Their distribution ranges from Canada down to southern Brazil, occupying diverse environments from tropical rainforests to deserts. The greatest variety of species is concentrated around southern Mexico and Guatemala.
The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has a native range covering the southeastern United States, extending west to parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, and south into Mexico and Central America. These birds are year-round residents in their native habitats, including agricultural fields, grasslands, and open woodlands. The California Quail (Callipepla californica) is native to the Pacific Coast region of the United States. Its original range stretched from Baja California up to southern Oregon and into western Nevada.
The Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), also known as the blue quail, is found in the arid regions of the Southwestern United States and central Mexico. Its native distribution includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Kansas. This species thrives in desert grasslands and shrublands. The Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) inhabits desert regions of the southwestern United States, primarily Arizona, and extends into parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as Sonora, Mexico. These quails prefer warm deserts with brushy and thorny vegetation, often near water sources.