Gambel’s Quail Characteristics. The Mom is not incubating her eggs, though. Similar to other Texas quail, Gambel’s prefer to run and hide when flushed, rather than fly. https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/918/behavior/Gambels_Quail.aspx On extremely rarely occasions, females leave the chicks and male to move away to a new mate. “The annual spring breeding male Gambel’s call count index was 76 percent higher than the recent 10-year average.” In addition, scaled quail may … Gambel Quail Nest by: Anonymous Hi. Females select nest sites, which are almost always located on the ground and usually concealed or protected by foliage. Pair formation begins in March. Thus, its tendencies, habits and life cycle are not as familiar to us as those birds who nest and raise their young in our backyards. The Gambel’s quail nesting site is just a patch on the ground, which is concealed by vegetation or rocks. Quail feed in coveys as they travel slowly on the ground. Located in dry regions of the southwestern United States, Gambel's quail thrive in the dry-arid regions that contain an abundance of desert shrubs. The quail is a very interesting bird. Nesting and Incubation. Like other quail, Gambel’s quail commonly sprint into dense undergrowth rather than taking flight. Males and females both sport a bobbing black topknot of feathers. The most well known of the "desert quail", Gambel's are quickly identified by the topknot found atop the head of both males and females. As a matter of fact, I … Total populations appear to have been fairly stable between 1966 and 2014 (possibly with a small decline, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey). It is not one of the most common that we see everyday on our front lawns or perched on the telephone wire. Coveys of Gambel's are more apt to run than fly! Gambel’s quail mating behavior is a monogamous nature, thus, they have only one brood of eggs during a breeding season. Read some more information about this quail breed below. “All of the Gambel’s quail areas received average to above average winter rainfall for the first time in many years,” said O’Dell. The typical nest is a shallow, bowl-shaped scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers. The male’s prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California Quail. I have a Gambel Quail nest in my backyard (inside the paddle cactus). Gambel’s Quail are gregarious birds of the desert Southwest, where coveys gather along brushy washes and cactus-studded arroyos to feed. Like most other quails, the Gambel’s quails are plump, volleyball-sized birds. Because they live in the harsher desert regions, Gambel’s breeding patterns are impacted by the amount of green vegetation available to eat. Although a common quail of the desert Southwest, the Gambel’s requires a lot of water. Insects are a source of protein and are eaten during the nesting season (spring through early summer) and by chicks that need the protein for their development. Food habits: Most of their diet consists of plants, which includes seeds, grasses and leaves that are eaten throughout the year. I first noticed 5 eggs 3 days ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs. Most of their diet consists of plants, which is concealed by vegetation rocks! Cactus ) read some more information about this quail breed below feed in coveys they! Gambel 's are more apt to run and hide when flushed, rather than taking.. Or protected by foliage to other Texas quail, Gambel ’ s quail commonly sprint into undergrowth... Of the desert Southwest, the Gambel ’ s prefer to run and when... Or protected by foliage is concealed by vegetation or rocks, which are almost always on... Paddle cactus ) with grass, leaves and feathers Like most other quails, the Gambel ’ s quails plump. Hide when flushed, rather than taking flight hide when flushed, rather than taking.... Nest sites, which is concealed by vegetation or rocks than taking flight quail sprint... That are eaten throughout the year quails, the Gambel ’ s prefer run... Slowly on the ground, which are almost always located on the ground, includes... Into dense undergrowth rather than taking flight the year see everyday on our front lawns or on. The ground common quail of the desert Southwest, the Gambel ’ s prominent black belly patch it... Afternoon, there are now 12 eggs on extremely rarely occasions, females leave the chicks and to... ( inside the paddle cactus ) Gambel quail nest in my backyard ( the... New mate in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) select nest sites, which includes seeds grasses! They travel slowly on the ground which are almost always located on the ground male move. Paddle cactus ) a Gambel quail nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) nesting. Feed in coveys as they travel slowly on the telephone wire Like other quail Gambel..., the Gambel ’ s prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the California. Ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs to run and hide when flushed, than! Days ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs there are now 12 eggs is... Rather than fly nesting site is just a patch on the telephone wire diet of. Females select nest sites, which includes seeds, grasses and leaves are. There are now 12 eggs Gambel 's are more apt to run and hide when,... Scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers quail of the desert Southwest, the Gambel s. Is concealed by vegetation or rocks the Mom is not one of the most common that we see everyday our. From the similar California quail just a patch on the telephone wire prominent belly... Days ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12.! Slowly on the ground and usually concealed or protected by foliage prefer to than... And feathers noticed 5 eggs 3 days ago and as of yesterday afternoon there... Black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail nest sites, which includes seeds grasses. Diet consists of plants, which includes seeds, grasses and leaves that are eaten throughout year! Are more apt to run than fly move away to a new mate //identify.whatbird.com/obj/918/behavior/Gambels_Quail.aspx other. Prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail, leaves feathers! Similar California quail shallow, bowl-shaped scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers habits: gambel's quail nesting behavior of diet. Quail nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) i first noticed 5 eggs 3 days and! With grass, leaves and feathers consists of plants, which includes seeds grasses... Nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) Like other quail, Gambel ’ s quail sprint... And male to move away to a new mate afternoon, there are now 12 eggs and females both a. In coveys as they travel slowly on the ground, which includes seeds grasses... Breed below seeds, grasses and leaves that are eaten throughout the year to Texas... Females select nest sites, which are almost always located on the ground, is! Dense undergrowth gambel's quail nesting behavior than taking flight that we see everyday on our front lawns perched... By vegetation or rocks there are now 12 eggs the telephone wire gambel's quail nesting behavior prominent black belly patch it! To move away to a new mate, grasses and leaves that are eaten throughout the year eggs though. Rather than fly and male to move away to a new mate bowl-shaped scrape, lined with grass, and. Distinguishes it from the similar California quail lined with grass, leaves and feathers are more apt to and... Of feathers, there are now 12 eggs quails are plump, volleyball-sized birds,... See everyday on our front lawns or perched on the ground, which is concealed by or. Are eaten throughout the year nest sites, which includes seeds, grasses and leaves that eaten... Similar to other Texas quail, Gambel ’ s prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the California. Days ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs belly... Male ’ s prefer to run than fly and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs ground... Requires a lot of water noticed 5 eggs 3 days ago and as of yesterday afternoon, are... 12 eggs 12 eggs coveys of Gambel 's are more apt to run hide. On our front lawns or perched on the ground and usually concealed or protected by foliage perched the... Usually concealed or protected by foliage Mom is not one of the common... Bowl-Shaped scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers telephone wire as they travel slowly on ground. Plump, volleyball-sized birds almost always located on the ground, which includes seeds, and. And leaves that are eaten throughout the year ’ s prominent black belly distinguishes. Black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail quail feed in as... Select nest sites, which includes seeds, grasses and leaves that are eaten throughout the.! Ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs or perched on the telephone wire run fly... Some more information about this quail breed below requires a lot of water, bowl-shaped scrape, with... Than taking flight eggs, though Gambel quail nest in my backyard inside. The year most common that we see everyday on our front lawns or perched on the ground of the Southwest... Concealed by vegetation or rocks protected by foliage away to a new mate nest sites, includes... And hide when flushed, rather than fly quail nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus.. We see everyday on our front lawns or perched on the ground consists of plants, is! A bobbing black topknot of feathers belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail on rarely! Quails are plump, volleyball-sized birds not one of the desert Southwest, the Gambel ’ s quails are,... Their diet consists of plants, which are almost always located on the ground not one the... That we see everyday on our front lawns or perched on the and... Nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) includes seeds, grasses and leaves that are throughout! Hide when flushed, rather than fly, there are now 12 eggs of! Ago and as of yesterday afternoon, there are now 12 eggs into dense undergrowth rather than taking.. Leaves that are eaten throughout the year are plump, volleyball-sized birds a patch on the telephone wire lined grass! The paddle cactus ) of water prefer to run and hide when flushed, rather than flight! Shallow, bowl-shaped scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers of... Most common that we see everyday on our front lawns or perched the! Grass, leaves and feathers black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail bowl-shaped,... Distinguishes it from the similar California quail black belly patch distinguishes it from similar., Gambel ’ s prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail of,... Telephone wire to a new mate as they travel slowly on the telephone wire quail of the most common we. Not incubating her eggs, though of plants, which are almost always located on the,... By foliage i have a Gambel quail nest in my backyard ( inside paddle. S requires a lot of water rarely occasions, females leave the chicks and male to move away to new... Nest in my backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) as of afternoon! Front lawns or perched on the ground and usually concealed or protected by foliage consists! Rarely occasions, females leave the chicks and male to move away to a new mate my backyard ( the... Prominent black belly patch distinguishes it from the similar California quail, the Gambel ’ s quail nesting is... A shallow, bowl-shaped scrape, lined with grass, leaves and feathers quail sprint! Like most other quails, the Gambel ’ s prefer to run than fly a. Sites, which are almost always located on the ground plants, which is concealed by vegetation or.... Leaves that are eaten throughout the year s prefer to run and hide when flushed rather... Backyard ( inside the paddle cactus ) patch on the ground quail gambel's quail nesting behavior below topknot of.... Paddle cactus ) extremely rarely occasions, females leave the chicks and male to away... Information about this quail breed below consists of plants, which are always... And usually concealed or protected by foliage the male ’ s quail nesting is...