Report a Sighting Now!

When you are out and about in the Presidio, keep your eyes peeled for signs of this hen-like bird with distinctive head plumes. California quail are known to find habitat primarily in the areas west of Presidio Golf Course, though an important part of this study is to determine where and how they might be moving to and using other areas of the park.

Leg Band Color Key

Each of the known California quail at the Presidio has been identified with a leg band using a color combination key. Each bird has a unique combination of two colored bands on each leg. If possible, please take note of these color combinations. For example, one bird may have one red and one yellow band on the right leg, and one pink and one black band on the left leg.

RED YELLOW BLUE ORANGE WHITE PURPLE BLACK PINK

Please also be as specific as possible when describing the location of the quail. Landmarks such as nearby buildings, cross streets, or other distinguishing features are very helpful.

Have You Seen Me?

Adult Length: 10 inches

Wing Span:  14 inches

General Description: Dark gray back overall.  Both sexes have a forward tilting, teardrop-shaped crest (called a “topknot”), unmarked bluish-gray to gray chests. Abdomen and belly is buff with dark scaly markings. The flanks (just below wings) are brownish with lighter buffy streaks. The back of the neck is gray with dark scales.

Males: Black throats and a dark brown cap, outlined with white. Topknot is black. Forehead is buff-colored.

Females: Have dark brown (not black) topknot, and do not have black and white markings on face and throat. Instead, the head and throat is grayish brown with some darker marks.

Juveniles:  Look very similar to adult females and may be difficult to distinguish in the winter.  The topknot is shorter and lighter brown than the female’s topknot.

Voice: No song, a variety of calls:
Assembly or Rally call - chi-CA-go
Contact calls – repeated syllables such as ut-ut, mo-mo, pit-pit, etc.
Alarm calls – pit-pit calls at high rates
Parental calls – mo-mo calls at low rates

Habitat: Grassland and forest edges, dense meadows, open woodlands, areas with lots of shrubs near water. Ideal quail habitat is characterized by dense shrubs for daytime shelter, dense trees for nighttime roosting, and open shrubby vegetation for nesting.

Food: Seeds (esp. legumes), insects, acorns, and plant leaves and fruits.

Nest: Well concealed, lined with grasses and dead leaves, and placed in a shallow hollow or scrape on the ground.  Nests are often concealed by dense clumps of grasses and shrubs or overhanging logs and rocks.  Built late March/early April.

Eggs: 1-28 eggs, creamy white with dark brown splotches.

Preventable Human Impacts: Free-roaming pet dogs and cats represent the greatest human-related threat to quail. Disturbances at nest sites cause abandonment of nests. Extensive use of assorted pesticides and herbicides has harmful effects on California Quail. As a ground-dwelling species Quail are vulnerable to cars.

Quail Trivia

• Oldest known California Quail was 6.5 years old.
• Has been successfully introduced in Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Corsica, Argentina, and Chile.
• Most numerous fossil bird found in the western United States.
• Gambel’s quail is its closest relative, based on plumage and behavior.
• Resident throughout range; individuals move seasonally within a home range.
• Usually run instead of flying, but will fly to escape predators.