Game Birds- ORDER: Galliformes
- FAMILY: Odontophoridae
Basic Description
A plump bird patterned in gray, white, and chestnut, the Mountain Quail sports a dramatic head plume like an exclamation point on its head. It is an elusive bird of western scrub and highlands—easy to hear but difficult to see. The species inhabits remote mountainous areas typically covered with dense shrubs such as chaparral. In summer, they move to woodlands as high as 10,000 feet to take advantage of abundant plant and insect life. As autumn approaches, they descend toward lower ridges or desert plains, gathering into small coveys.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
A spring or summer hiking trip into the mountainous backcountry of this species’ range is a good way to at least hear a Mountain Quail—its loud, squeaky whistle echoes off canyon walls especially in early morning and late evening. Seeing these birds in their dense habitat is harder: search along roadsides or trail edges and look for family groups moving to and from their night roosts or eating grit to aid in processing food.
Other Names
- Colín Serrano (Spanish)
- Colin des montagnes (French)