Large, round-bodied quail with 2 straight plumes, that often appear as one on top of its head. Note chestnut throat, bold white bars on its side, and a short tail.
Large, round-bodied quail with 2 straight plumes, that often appear as one on top of its head. Note chestnut throat, bold white bars on its side, and rusty undertail coverts.
Rapidly walks or runs along the ground, usually sticking close to cover.
Immatures are mottled brown overall with a shorter brown plume.
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A round-bodied game bird with a small head, short tail, rounded wings, and short, strong legs. Two distinctive plumes stick up off the head like the feather of a quill pen, longest in adult males.
Slightly larger than a California Quail, smaller than a Gray Partridge.
between robin and crowThe five subspecies of Mountain Quail differ subtly in plumage tones. The two western/coastal subspecies (pictus, plumifer) are more richly colored and browner, whereas the three interior/desert subspecies (russelli, eremophilus, confinis) tend to be paler and grayer, probably an adaptation to the general background colors of their drier environment.
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