Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Also known as: Gambel's Partridge
About This Species
Look for coveys moving through desert scrub and arid washes in the southwestern United States, often near a reliable water source. The topknot plume and the distinctive rising "chi-ca-go" call are good identification cues, and birds are most active and visible in the cooler hours of early morning and evening. Coveys tend to stay low and run rather than fly when disturbed, so patient, quiet observation works best.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Coveys with young are easily scattered, which separates chicks from adults and increases predation risk, so keep a comfortable distance and avoid pushing birds to flush, especially in the breeding season.
- Where hunting seasons apply, state wildlife regulations govern take and disturbance and should be checked locally, since rules differ between jurisdictions within its range.
LCAvesGalliformesOdontophoridae
Seasonal Activity
694,862 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Odontophoridae
Photo
(c) Andrej Chudý, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.