Elegant Quail
A species of Crested quails Scientific name : Callipepla douglasii Genus : Crested quails
Elegant Quail, A species of Crested quails
Botanical name: Callipepla douglasii
Genus: Crested quails
Content
Description General Info
Description
The elegant quail grows to a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The male has a distinctive long, straight, golden-buff crest (the female's crest is grey). In other ways the sexes are similar in appearance, being mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown and white, and in the case of the male, in reddish-brown as well. The beak is black, the irises are brown and the legs dark grey to black. This bird can be distinguished from the otherwise similar scaled quail (C. squamata), California quail (C. californica), and Gambel's quail (C. gambelii) by the colour of the male's crest and by the paler spotting on the flanks. Vocalisations include a "chip-chip" call used by members of a covey to help them remain in contact as they feed on the ground by day, and a "cu-cow" call given on assembly at the roosting site in the evening, and again in the morning before setting off to forage. 
Size
24 cm
Feeding Habits
Elegant Quail primarily consumes a variety of insects and plants. It forages on the ground, often in groups, to find its diverse diet. Uniquely adapted to its habitat, elegant Quail has a preference for certain seeds and invertebrates.
Habitat
The elegant Quail is predominately found in habitats composed of thorny scrub, deciduous forest, open grounds, and bordering cultivated fields. These environments are often characterized by foothills and river valleys within regions hosting Sinaloan Thornscrub and various forms of deciduous forests. The habitat exhibits an intricate mosaic of shrubbery, microphyllous trees, and grasses, including diverse drought-deciduous legumes with protective thorns. These birds dwell in areas where plant diversity is high, ranging in elevation from sea level to over 1,500 meters. Ground cover is crucial, as habitats with lighter grazing support higher densities of elegant Quail. They thrive in semi-arid climates where most rainfall occurs between July and September, and freezing temperatures are uncommon and brief.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
Elegant quails are found only in Mexico, on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Their range extends from Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua to northern Jalisco and they are generally found in thorny scrub and deciduous forest, on open ground and cultivated fields. When disturbed they either freeze or run through the undergrowth, taking to the wing only with reluctance.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
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