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Montezuma Quail Identification

Montezuma Quail Male
Male

Small-headed, round-bodied quail with a very short tail. Males have a harlequin facial pattern, a deep chestnut breast, and white spots on their sides.

© Lucas Bobay | Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 04, 2015
Montezuma Quail Male
Male

Small-headed, round-bodied quail that can be difficult to see well. Males have a harlequin pattern on the face and white dots on the side of its body.

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 29, 2016
Montezuma Quail Male
Male

Forages by scratching the ground for seeds, grass roots, acorns, and insects. Typically uses surrounding dense vegetation or large rocks for cover while foraging.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, April 01, 1997
Montezuma Quail Female
Female

Small-headed, round-bodied quail with a very short tail. Females are cryptically marked in browns with whitish lines and a ghosting of the male's facial pattern.

© Lucas Bobay | Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 04, 2015
Montezuma Quail Female
Female

Small-headed, round-bodied quail with a very short tail. Females are cryptically marked in browns with whitish dots and lines. They have a ghosting of the male's facial pattern.

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 29, 2016
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Adult Description

Small quail. Small round head with slight rounded crest. Round body with very short tail. Male with bold black-and-white face pattern, black chin, dark chest with many small white spots, and streaks and bars across back. Female brown with indistinct head pattern like male's.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult female.
Relative Size

Relative Sizebetween robin and crowbetween robin and crow
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)
    • Weight: 4.3-8.1 oz (122-230 g)
    • Wingspan: 16.1-16.9 in (41-43 cm)

Species in This Family

New World Quail(Order: Galliformes, Family:Odontophoridae)

Mountain QuailMountain Quail
Northern BobwhiteNorthern Bobwhite
Scaled QuailScaled Quail
California QuailCalifornia Quail
Gambel's QuailGambel's Quail
Montezuma QuailMontezuma Quail

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