Gambel's Quail are seed eaters. They also like herbaceous material, fruits and berries. They are ground feeders. We see them early in the morning in the patio. At sundown, they make a foray through our back yard.
Gambel's quail inhabit brushy and thorny vegetation of southwestern deserts. They range up to a mile, often along river valleys and drainages. They roost at night time in shrubs and trees, usually just a few inches to a few feet off the ground. They appear commonly in suburbs.
These gregarious birds often join together in groups known as coveys, which may total 20 or more individuals in fall and winter. [This is the behaviour we're seeing now. In spring and summer, we see individual family groups.] They produce a l0cation or assembly call, "ka-KAA-ka-ka," to locate a mate or other covey members. They emit a distinct "chip-chip-chip" when alarmed. [Desert USA]
7 comments:
How beautiful!!!
You have captured their wonderful coloring ...
I miss having quail in our yard
Pam, these "Gambel's Quail" are just beautiful! Thanks for the link, too!
We have California Quail here in the pacific northwest. Their behavior is like your Gambel's Quail behavior. The male is often on the lookout, and the female and young forage about for food. The male is also quite striking. Lovely photos of them, Pam.
What an exotic looking bird Pam, must be great to have them around.
You are very fortunate to have such beautiful birds in your garden. Love that crest on the male.
endment - I love the colouring of the males, too.
sonia - you're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed them.
ra - They are my husband's favourite patio visitor - they are always so comical as they run about the garden. And we so appreciate how protective the males are of their families.
duncan - They really are a delight. I wish I could get stills of the females and their young, but i find them very difficult to capture - they move so quickly. When the little ones first hatch, they're so tiny that they look like little insects running behind their parents.
trevor - Isn't he a handsome one? I really do love them, despite their raucous cries which wake me whenever I try to sleep in.
Nice, very nice, I love to watch the young ones grow. amn
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