Gambel’s Quail
Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a distinctive bird native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Easily recognized by the plume on its head, which curves forward, the Gambel's Quail has a striking appearance with gray, brown, and white plumage and a black face mask in males. These ground-dwelling birds thrive in desert scrub, mesquite, and riparian habitats, where they forage for seeds, fruits, and insects. Highly social, they are often seen in groups called coveys.