Scaled Quail

The Scaled Quail, also known as the Blue Quail or Cottontop (owing to the distinctive white top-knot on its crest), is a familiar game bird of the desert grasslands of Mexico and the southwestern United States. Groups of Scaled Quail scurry through the desert grasslands of the southwestern United States, calling softly to each other to stay in contact. These elegant brownish-gray birds have an understated crest with a buffy top and a marvelous pattern of dark brown and gray-buff on the breast and belly. When encountering people or predators, the birds dash away through the brush, or else fly a short distance and reassemble.

About Scaled Quails

Like most Quails, this is a gregarious game bird that forms large winter coveys and usually runs rather than flies to escape its enemies. Besides insects and leaves, its diet includes seeds from a wide variety of forbs, grasses, and shrubs. Scaled Quail populations periodically rise and fall. These “booms and busts” generally seem attributable to
widespread reproductive failure, possibly owing to inadequate rainfall and a resulting lack of succulent foods. In addition, severe winter weather with prolonged deep snow can cause widespread mortality. Today, we are going to be talking about one of the few native quail species to North America.

● Scaled Quail Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Scaled Quail Size, Eating Behavior, Habitat
● Scaled Quail Range and Migration, Nesting

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Scaled Quail Color Pattern

These Quails are very drab in appearance, with both sexes looking similar in appearance. They have pale brownish bodies and brown wings that are striped with buff. They are the least dimorphic of all North American Quails, with the throat and head of males being only slightly bluer than the females during the breeding season. Males also have a clear buff throat, while females don a gray throat with dark streaks. Their bodies overall are patterned with dark buff marks that give them their scaled appearance.

Juveniles lack the “scaled” appearance of adults and are mostly plain gray overall. After their first year, they begin to slowly molt into their mature plumages. They also have a shorter crest, with more intricate patterns on the upper portion of their wings.

Description and Identification

Look for Scaled Quail in sparsely vegetated grasslands with a few scattered shrubs and cacti. Driving or walking along a road or trail in the early morning or late afternoon should yield an observation of a pair or covey. Look quickly as most groups scurry away as soon as they are spotted (or even before). In spring, listen for singing males and then look for them perched in the open on a bush, fence post, or piece of farm equipment. Unmated males sing through the summer, which can be helpful for finding them late in the season.”

Scaled Quail Song

These Quails are not extremely vocal, but still, have a small array of sounds. There is a shriek “whock” that is associated with a sexual advertisement by unmated males during the breeding seasons. These birds also give out squeal calls regularly. Members that are breeding may also give out a “cheep” or a “chipee” when they are suddenly flushed from their nests. A “pe-cos” call is used to keep members of a convey in vocal contact while feeding. They also let out a soft, gurgly call that indicates mild disturbance “twurkel”. Both males and females also give out “chekar” and “tsing” calls when individuals are separated from other quails or when birds sense intruders coming. This helps them regroup with each other. Soft clucks and chirps have also been heard from the birds, presumably as contact calls. As with other birds, chicks give out “peep peep” calls before gradually learning to expand their vocal range and imitate their parents.

Scaled Quail Size

Scaled Quails are compact, plump, chicken-like birds that have a small head and a distinctive short crest. Their body length is about 10–12 inches, while their average weight is around 6.2–6.7 ounces. They have a stout body, short tail, short and strong legs, and short wings that have wingspan of roughly 15 inches. These proportions make them about
the same size as a Gambel’s Quail.

Scaled Quail Behavior

Forages in small groups (coveys) by walking slowly along the ground, pecking at seeds and insects, or nipping vegetation. Males sing from conspicuous perches in spring. Often seen along roadsides in small groups, which usually run away or flush into flight.

The Scaled Quail breeding season begins in April, with males perching prominently on a fence post, bush, or other high point and delivering a high-pitched “whock!” repeatedly, mostly in the early morning. Some males, especially those without a mate, give this song through the entire breeding season, but most mated males sing less or not at all once nesting begins. Males court females with a display called “tidbitting,” in which males peck the ground, erect the feathers of the neck and flanks, and bob their head as they prance with high steps, calling all the while. Females sometimes respond with similar behavior. They indicate a willingness to pair by crouching. Although Scaled Quail do not hold territories, males with mates are aggressive toward other males during this season and frequently chase them away from mates. Scaled Quail appear to be monogamous in their mating system, and they are social for most of the year, gathering in September into small coveys of 15–40 birds, usually an aggregation of several family groups. When disturbed or hunted, Scaled Quail flee on foot and when flushed seldom flies far. Like other small Quail that live in coveys, they sit in circular formations, facing outward, to sleep at night.

Scaled Quail Diet

These birds require high amounts of protein along with plant-based nutrients. During the summer, they consume a lot of invertebrates like millipedes, centipedes, caterpillars, beetles, and snails. The plant-based food they consume is mainly seeds. They also have flowers, leaves, berries, and grains from plants like poison oak, manzanita, and acorns. They find their food without much need for flight.

Scaled Quail Habitat

Scaled Quails are characteristic of coastal sagebrush, chaparral, foothills, and high deserts. They prefer living in open woodlands, bushy areas, valleys with streams, and suburbs, but they adapt well to urbanisation if there are sufficient amounts of bird seeds. Their frequent appearances at suburban backyards have boosted their popularity significantly along the western coast of the United States, although increasing urbanisation has been gradually decreasing the native populations of the birds due to higher competition for limited food resources.

Range and Migration

Scaled Quails are short, plump new world quails with characteristically beautiful plumages found along the western coast of the United States and parts of Canada and southern Mexico. They are one of the state birds of California and are frequently visible near human civilization. They are permanent residents of their regions and are non-migratory but can move within their home territories in search of food.

Scaled Quail Lifecycle

These birds generally have a clutch size of 12–15 eggs whitish eggs in a brood, with females incubating the eggs for 20-23 days. On rare occasions, male may help in incubating the eggs. The young are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching and often begin feeding soon after from the ground. The parents remain for a little long, with males guarding the nest while the females and the young feed on the ground. Unfortunately, the age at which they learn to fly is unknown. As a result, it is still quite uncertain when these birds become fully independent. The age at which their parents leave them is also unknown.

Nesting

Females make the nests on the ground of shrubbery or grassy areas. They are found at the bases of trees but can occasionally be made at a height of up to 10 feet from the ground. The nest is often a shallow depression in the ground that is lined with stems and leaves for the structure. It can be stuffed with more leaves later on. These nests are built near thick amounts of vegetation or by rocks for additional protection from predators and the natural elements. A clutch size usually involves 12-15 eggs in a brood, with the incubation period ranging between 20–23 days. Annually, females may have 1–2 broods.

Anatomy of a Scaled Quail

Scaled Quails are compact, plump, chicken-like birds that have a small head and a distinctive short crest. Their body length is about 10–12 inches, while their average weight is around 6.2–6.7 ounces. They have a stout body, short tail, short and strong legs, and short wings that have wingspan of roughly 15 inches. These proportions make them about
the same size as a Gambel’s Quails.

Final Thoughts

The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimates that Scaled Quail populations were roughly stable from 1968–2015, although it indicates possible sharper declines in the last decade of that period. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population of Scaled Quail at 5.1 million. It rates the species a 12 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score but lists the species as a Common Bird in Steep Decline because of recent sharp declines. Overgrazing is a serious threat to Scaled Quail populations, as this practice reduces both food and cover for the species.

There are not many quails in North America, but every one of them has something new to offer. These birds have unfortunately been culturally prized for their meat, a notion that is difficult to break even in the modern day. While most aspects about their life remain unknown, it seems unlikely that their populations will thrive enough for us to learn all the answers we want to. Until people from all spaces collectively rise against faulty methods of conservation, we may just continue to risk losing a majority of the natural world’s treasures for good.

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for IdentifyingScaled Quails

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Scaled Quails are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Scaled Quail Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Scaled Quail. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Bird Feeders ForScaled Quails

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird Houses ForScaled Quails

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.