Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii

Gamble's quail, named after the naturalist William Gambel,  are what most people think when you mention quail. Males have black faces and red tophats. The females are more drab with plain gray heads with the black topknot. This bird will cross with the Scaled Quail in the wild. They are nervous birds with high-strung temperments, and they never seem to settle down in the presence of humans.

Gambel's chicks grow slowly and are harder to hatch successfully. They are good fliers and grow up to be very nervous aggressive birds.  They will also kill coturnix quail, so the two don't go well together in an aviary.  Don't try raising these birds unless you have plenty of space and patience.

Gambel's Quail are common throughout the American Southwest and northern Mexico.  For more information on Gambel's Quail, visit  here.  A fact sheet on the birds is also available.