California Quail

Habitat

California Quail are most often found in edge habitat with food-producing plants and shrubs for cover. Many forest types provide such habitat at their edges, as do steppe zones, low- to mid-density residential areas, parks, roadsides, and traditional agriculture.

Behavior

California Quail are predominantly ground dwellers, although the males spend much time off the ground in bushes, trees, and on manmade structures, especially when calling. They live in groups called 'coveys' that move about within a home range during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, coveys break up into breeding pairs that spread out across the home range to nest.

Diet

In Washington, California Quail rely heavily on seeds, especially those from legumes. They will also eat leaves, fresh shoots, berries, acorns, and insects.

Nesting

Ground nesters, California Quail usually find a spot under a shrub or brush-pile or next to a log or other cover where they build a shallow depression lined with grasses and leaves. Sometimes they nest above ground, on a broken branch or in the old nest of another bird. Females lay and incubate a clutch of 10-16 eggs. Although the young are able to walk about and feed themselves almost immediately after hatching, both parents continue to tend to them, the female brooding them at night and in cold weather, and the male acting as a sentry, watching for danger.

Migration Status

Although the California Quail is a permanent resident, it moves seasonally within its home range.

Conservation Status

The California Quail was introduced into Washington from the southwestern United States. It adapts well to encroaching human populations and is often found in wooded suburbs and city parks, where it is subject to predation by cats. Changing habitats that increase edge and maintain early successional habitat benefit the quail. Conversion of small farms to large agribusiness without hedgerows has a negative impact on the population.

When and Where to Find in Washington

California Quail are common and widespread in Washington. They are found in shrubby areas, farmlands, residential areas, and city parks. In western Washington, they can be found in the Puget Trough south to the Willamette Valley, in the San Juan Islands, and on the Olympic Peninsula in Sequim. In eastern Washington, they can be found in most areas with water below the lower tree line. In the Blue Mountains, the species is expanding up creek and river valleys. They are absent from the vast tracts of dry wheat and from the moist river valleys in the northeast corner of the state.

Click here to visit this species' account and breeding-season distribution map in Sound to Sage, Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties.

Washington Range Map