Quails are small, ground-dwelling birds found across North America, recognized by their plump bodies, short necks, and often distinctive head plumes. These birds primarily move by walking or running, though they are capable of short, powerful bursts of flight, typically when startled. Quails inhabit a variety of environments, adapting to diverse landscapes throughout the continent. They generally prefer areas offering a mix of open ground for foraging and dense cover for protection.
Quail Species Across the Continent
North America hosts several prominent quail species, each possessing unique characteristics. The Northern Bobwhite is widely recognized for its distinctive “bob-white” whistling call. California Quails are easily identified by their prominent, curving topknot of feathers. Gambel’s Quails feature a striking black and white face pattern and a forward-curling head plume. The Scaled Quail, also known as the blue quail, earns its name from the scaly appearance of its breast feathers. The Mountain Quail is the largest North American species, distinguished by two long, straight feathers that arch over its back.
Eastern North America: Bobwhite Strongholds
In Eastern North America, the Northern Bobwhite is the predominant quail species, ranging from southeastern Canada to eastern Mexico. These birds thrive in diverse early successional habitats, including agricultural fields, native grasslands, and open woodlands. They also favor brushy areas, hedgerows, and the edges where different habitat types meet. Bobwhites utilize dense grasses for nesting cover and brushy fence rows or open woods for roosting and escape from predators. Their diet consists of seeds, leaves, and insects, foraged in open areas adjacent to protective cover, and optimal bobwhite habitat often includes a mosaic of grassland, cropland, shrub cover, and woodland, all within close proximity.
Western and Southwestern North America: Arid and Coastal Dwellers
The western and southwestern regions of North America host a diverse array of quail species.
California Quails
California Quails are common residents along the Pacific Coast, extending from southern Oregon to British Columbia and into parts of Nevada. These adaptable birds prefer broken chaparral, oak woodlands, coastal scrub, and even suburban gardens and parks.
Gambel’s Quails
Gambel’s Quails are found almost exclusively in the warm desert regions of the southwestern United States, primarily Arizona, extending into parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. They inhabit brushy and thorny desert vegetation, often near water sources like river valleys or desert mountain foothills where water is accessible. These quails seek dense shrubs or trees for roosting and shelter from predators.
Scaled Quails
Scaled Quails, also known as blue or cotton top quail, are native to the Chihuahuan desert and surrounding grasslands of the U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico. They prefer arid to semi-arid upland habitats with scattered shrubs and open ground. Their range includes western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, thriving in areas with low-growing grasses and forbs.
Mountain Quails
Mountain Quails, the largest quail species in North America, inhabit mountainous chaparral and woodland forests west of the Rocky Mountains, from British Columbia to the Baja Peninsula. They typically reside at elevations between 2,000 and 10,000 feet, seeking heavy ground cover like dense brush and thickets for protection. Some populations may move to lower elevations during winter months.