{"id":4873,"date":"2022-10-28T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=4873"},"modified":"2022-12-05T05:39:41","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T05:39:41","slug":"the-chicken-of-the-woods-the-california-quail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2022\/10\/28\/the-chicken-of-the-woods-the-california-quail\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chicken of the Woods: The California Quail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine this scenario. You\u2019re out for a picnic date in the park that just isn\u2019t going well. You just aren\u2019t connecting on anything, and those awkward silences are becoming increasingly common. You think to yourself \u201cGod this person just isn\u2019t exciting, and I think I\u2019m going to tell them I want to go home.\u201d Suddenly, you hear some rustling and chirping in the bushes followed by a call that sound like someone saying \u201cchi-CA-go.\u201d Being an avid ornithologist, you instantly get excited as a striking bird with a funky little feather knot on its head steps out of the bushes, surrounded by a gaggle of little fluffballs all chirping and looking for food. You smile to yourself. Now you\u2019ll finally have something to talk about with your date, for it’s none other than the incredible California Quail.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IDENTIFICATION: What is a California Quail?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The California Quail (Callipepla californica)<\/em> is a type of new world quail belonging to the order Galliformes and the family Odontophoridae. This small, plump ball of feathers is easily identified by its little feather or topknot that sits on its head which is actually made up of a collection of six overlapping feathers and may have a purpose in mating (All About Birds<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 1: An adult male California Quail perching. Credit: Wikipedia<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The California quail is a plump and round gamebird that typically reminds people of a small forest chicken. This bird is about half the size of a ring-necked pheasant putting its average length at 24-27cm and its weight between 140 and 230g so you can think of it being between the size of a robin and a crow (All About Birds<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 2: Relative size of a California Quail. Credit: All About Birds<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The California Quail is characterized by having quite a short neck in addition to having round and short wings which are excellent for fast takeoff. These quails are characterized by having their famous topknot and additionally have a striking scaled pattern on their belly (Audubon<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to identify the sex of a quail, all you must do is look at the face and belly patches. These sexes are dimorphic, meaning that the males and females have distinct plumage (AnimalDiversit<\/a>, Gee, 2006<\/a> ). Male quails have a distinct black face with fine black and white markings on their neck and a chestnut belly patch on their scaled black and white belly. Females on the other hand lack the distinct dark male head markings and typically have duller and browner colors. Young quails look like females but have shorter topknots (All About Birds<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 3: Male California Quail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Figure 4: Female California Quail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Listen for its distinct \u201cchi-ca-go<\/em>\u201d call when you\u2019re out on your next walk among bushy areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audio 1: California Quail calling. Note the distinct repeated syllables “chi-ca-go.”<\/em> Credit: <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are seven recognized subspecies of California quail that occur in California and the northwest (Cabrera-Huerta, et al. 2022<\/a>). California quails usually live 2-4 years, but the oldest known California Quail was almost 7 years old (All About Birds<\/a>)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HABITAT AND NESTING: WHERE CAN YOU FIND THEM?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California Quails can be found in oak woodlands, forests, sagebrush, and general shrubby areas of western North America, from California to Vancouver Island. Originally, California Quails were exclusively native to the southwest United States however they have been introduced to other areas such as British Columbia(Wikipedia<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 5: Year-round range of the California Quail. Credit: Birds Of The World<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

California Quails are year-round residents of their habitat and do not undergo migrations. You may also stumble across them in city parks or suburban gardens as they are semi-tolerable to people (All About Birds<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These little birds love building their nests in hidden spots such as at the base of trees, inside bushes or tall grasses, or even in the nest of another bird (Audubon<\/a>)! Their nests are typically shallow depressions lined with stems and grasses and hidden from the watchful eyes of predators. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 6: California Quail nest post-hatching. Credit: William H. Mullins.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

REPRODUCTION: HOW NEW QUAILS COME TO BE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California Quails are thought to be serially monogamous, which means that their bond to their mate only lasts one breeding season (Animalia<\/a>) although, there is evidence that some birds will re-mate (Edgewood<\/a>). Quails may be social animals during the fall and early spring, but when summer rolls around they get highly territorial and aggressive. Courtship displays include puffing up contour feathers, head dips, and spreading of tail feathers (NZ Birds<\/a>). Females lay eggs typically in late April to early July and lay around 10-17eggs, although some nests have been found with up to 28 eggs. This is known as egg dumping and increases the chances of at least some baby quails surviving to adulthood(All About Birds<\/a>). Females lay about 3 eggs every 4 days for this period and incubation only starts after all the eggs have been laid. The eggs are creamy-white with golden-brown speckles and look like pointed ovals. They typically measure 1.25 inches by 1.0 inches (AnimalDiversity<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 7: A California Quail Egg from the collection of Jacques Perrin de Brichambaut. Credit: Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The incubation period lasts 18-23 days and is entirely done by the female! The male quail just stands as a sentinel while the female incubates(Edgewood<\/a>). Talk about not splitting the chores evenly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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