Callipepla californica
December 27, 1996: Buena Vista Recreation Area, Kern County, CA
While following a couple of owls, I crossed the main road to find a field filled with these incredibly cute birds. There must have been at least fifty of them, probably more (I didn’t count). Big ones and smaller ones, all bopping around foraging in the field. They didn’t seem to notice me there, and I viewed them until Kevin came back to pick me up. I was glad he got to see them. Very cute!
June 14, 1997: Leo Carrillo State Park, Los Angeles, CA
We saw several of these charming little birds at Leo Cabrillo Beach, including several family groups with young. Those tiny chicks are SO CUTE! I love to watch quail!
March 23, 1999: Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, CA
April 22, 2002: Oak Canyon Nature Center, Orange County, CA
I took the long trail along the canyon and there were LOTS of quail throughout the whole area. Making lots of noise, and so cute when I was able to spot them.
February 22, 2003: Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda County, CA
I heard an unusual call and a few moments later remembered that it belonged to these adorable birds. A flock of them was foraging on the grass near the nature center, and one big one was perched atop a wooden fence post. He didn’t seemed bothered by me at all and called a few times. I love quail – they are so cute!
May 21, 2003: Contra Costa County, CA
Finally! I spotted these birds from the back garden. While getting dressed this morning, I saw a bird fly by which looked suspiciously like a quail. So I went outside to have a look. Sure enough. A quail flew by while I was watching and I spotted another in a tree across our little valley. Hopeful, I threw some corn outside our fence and also on the flagstone path in our garden. A few minutes later, a pair of quail walked right by the gate, but I don’t think they even noticed the corn. Hopefully they’ll be back! Part of the area behind the house was mowed yesterday, which has perhaps contributed to the quail’s appearance. Hopefully none of their nests or chicks were harmed.
June 25, 2005: Oak Canyon Nature Center, Orange County, CA
We saw this very cooperative bird during a quick geocaching trip.
April 29, 2007: Canyon Green, San Ramon, CA
May 2, 2007: Canyon Green, San Ramon, CA
May 5, 2007: Marshall Gold Discovery SHP, El Dorado County, CA
We saw this pair of quail as we were approaching the monument at the site on the American River where Marshall first discovered gold. The birds walked very close by to us and didn’t seem too terribly nervous. Such lovely birds. I’ll miss seeing them; once we’re back on the east coast.
May 6, 2007: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UT
Seen in Mormon Square.
May 6, 2007: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UT
June 22, 2008: Contra Costa County, CA
This summer, we had the pleasure of watching this family of quail spend a lot of time in our yard. Those babies are so precious, and both the male and the female are attentive parents . . . the female keeping track of the fledglings while the male perched up high as a sentry.
June 7, 2011: Boggs Lake Ecological Reserve, Lake County, CA
(brunnescens) There are several pairs of quail at the field site, including one which was sitting on a nest near the tules along one of our walking routes. I was able to see the female sitting on her nest just about every day and also view the nest (which had 14 eggs) at times when she was away. Unfortunately, the eggs hadn’t hatched by the time we ended our season. I did see some young quail though, from another pair with an early clutch.
November 12, 2016: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) These quail were one of the species we captured on film the first time we put out wildlife cameras (borrowed from the Sonoma Land Trust) along Copeland Creek. The quail were photographed behind the facilities building near Petaluma Hill Road.
March 28, 2022: Sears Point Trail, Sonoma County, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) I caught a glimpse of one of these birds when it flushed as we walked nearby. A few minutes later, I heard one calling and spotted it down by the railroad tracks. On our way back along the trail, we spotted one more quail and I was able to get a quick photo of it before it ran off.
April 18, 2022: Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail-Kelly Pond and Laguna Wetlands Preserve
(brunnescens) One of my students was being jokingly competitive about seeing more birds than me, and was bragging that he’d seen some quail that I hadn’t spotted. A few minutes later I heard a quail vocalize in the grasslands (while we were at Kelly Pond). Add this one to my list haha.
May 6, 2022: Palomarin Field Station, Point Reyes, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) I’d heard a few quail while walking the trail, but just as we were leaving (literally, driving out of the parking lot), four quail – two adult males, and two adult females – were walking in the road in front of us. They weren’t at all bothered by the car. As I crept up behind them, going extremely slowly, they just kept foraging around on the dirt road. It took us literally five minutes to get safely past them, but no one minded, as they are so adorable.
May 6, 2022: Morgan Trail, Bear Valley, Point Reyes, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) After leaving the bird banding station, we hiked for a bit on this wooded trail. We saw some quail as we were just getting started on our hike, passing through meadow dotted with lupine and poppies.
May 20, 2022: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) Seen during the Vertebrate Biology BioBlitz.
June 1, 2022: Bodega Marine Lab, Sonoma County, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) Returning to the marine lab along the private road, I spotted one of these birds in middle of the road. Everything about them is charming, and I am always happy to see these gorgeous quail. Also picked up by Merlin.
June 3, 2022: Bodega Marine Lab, Sonoma County, CA
(Callipepla californica brunnescens) First thing in the morning, this bird was sitting on a sign near the main gates. Later, I had a big treat. Over the past couple of days, I’d been seeing quail here and there, but this was the first time I got a look at entire family of them. As I was driving, I noticed the female crossing the road ahead of me, and I realized that she wasn’t not alone. She was accompanied by the TINEST little babies I’d ever seen! They must have been very recently hatched, as they seemed impossibly small. And cute. Unfortunately, I had to take my photos through the car’s windshield, so they aren’t great, but those tiny babies (and their good mama) were so adorable. Right after they were across the road, their dad brought up the rear. Good dad.
Let me know what you think!