Gambel’s Quail are our favorite daily desert bird visitors – Callipepla gambelii

Gambel’s quail are very common in Arizona. Out the window I spotted a COVEY,  small family,  of Gambel’s quail covering themselves from the rain.  These birds PUFF up, for insulation, with their feathers to help stay warm.

male, female, baby Gambel’s Quail in the rain

Gambel’s quail were discovered by Dr. William Gambel in 1841 and named in his honor.  These quail hide and nest under brushy, thorny shrubs, and dine on seeds, leaves, cactus fruits, ants and other insects.

Gambel’s Quail, Male quail with baby chicks

Gambel’s quail live in the hot deserts of the Southwest — the Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan at elevations below 5,000 feet.

covey of Gambel’s Quail

This photo of the quail chicks with mom and dad was taken from our back patio.  The female Gambel’s quail is the lookout while the family eats thistle seed I keep on the porch.

Male Gambel quail being a lookout for the bird family

If there is any danger, the lookout will issue an alarm sound and the Gambel’s quail family will sprint for cover!

Male Gambels Quail look like they have a red hat with a black feather

These delightful, lovable birds prefer walking to flying and typically fly only to avoid danger or to roost.

How fast can Gambel’s quail run?  These desert quail can run up to 15 miles per hour.  If startled and to avoid a predator they can fly up to 40 miles per hour.

Male Gambel’s Quail

Both male and female Gambel’s quail have a comma-shaped bobbing plume of feathers on top of their small heads. Males have gray, cream and black patterns that serve as excellent camouflage.  Female Gambel’s quail lack the distinctive head pattern and are grayer overall.

Female Gambel’s Quail bird

Everyday we see these chunky quail running from cover to cover in the desert shrubs. The dense cover provides shelter and camouflage for these unique desert birds.  They are so entertaining to watch!

spotted eggs in a Gambel Quail nest

Female quail usually select nest sites on the ground. Preferably this bird nest is hidden under a shrub, rock, or protected site.

male and female Gambel’s Quail

This bird’s predators are coyotes, bobcats, snakes and carnivorous birds.  Extreme weather can be the greatest enemy of the Gambel’s quail because harsh conditions reduce the growth of the plants that provide this bird with food and shelter.

We have had the exciting experience of watching as they go from eggs to chicks ready to run with their mom and dad!

Gambel’s quail keeping watch with our mourning doves

The quail chicks eat mostly insects like ANTS, while the parents eat the seeds of berries, grasses, cactus fruit, and other plants.  Gambel’s quail obtain water from plant material, but still need some free water.  We keep water available throughout our property.

Male Gambel’s quail as a lookout

The baby quail stay close to their parents.   Gambel’s Quails run across the road in groups called coveys that can include a dozen or more birds.

Gambel’s quail covey running across our road

The covey, quail family, form a line as they dodge in and out of cover in the desert sun, with the father leading the way. The baby birds are followed by the female quail pulling guard duty in the rear.

Female Gambel Quail and baby

The lookout quail will make distinct warning sounds to alert others.  Male Gambel’s quail are heard making calls for the family, covey members.  Listen to the short youtube video to hear the male quail calling his covey.

Male Gambel’s quail stares at his reflection

Gambel’s quails are sometimes called Desert quails.

Gambel’s quail in our front yard

A few extra facts about Gambel’s quail:

• Average life expectancy for a wild desert quail is 1.5 years.
• Mom lays 10 or more eggs in a nest protected by vegetation or under a rock.
• Female Gambel’s quail are in charge of the incubation.  In approximately 3 weeks,  the quail chicks will all hatch on the same day and within hours will be out of the nest to run around with mom and dad.
• Gambel’s quail have been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands.