SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #9

California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.

Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain


Photograph of a California Quail

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

California Quail – Callipepla californica
Name Roots: (Gr. Kallos, “a beauty”; peplos, “a robe” – of California)


PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The California Quail (Callipepla californica), also known as the California valley quail or Valley quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. These birds have a curving crest or plume, made of six feathers, that droops forward: black in males and brown in females; the flanks are brown with white streaks. Males have a dark brown cap and a black face with a brown back, a grey-blue chest and a light brown belly.

Females and immature birds are mainly grey-brown with a light-colored belly.


DISTRIBUTION & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA

The California Quail (Callipepla californica) is a common yearround resident of the Sierra Nevada in the Foothill Woodlands and Lower Montane biotic zones.

eBird Bar Chart

CONSERVATION STATUS – IUCN Red List Category

The California Quail is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Redlist Classification Justification: The California Quail has an extremely large range, its population is extremely large and appears to be increasing.


PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP Poster Edges Filter

California Quail Outpost – Photoshop Poster Edges Filter

Previous Sierra Nevada Birds Posts below:

One response to “California Quail”

  1. Birder's Journey Avatar

    Beautiful images of this special bird. I love the crests.

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ABOUT ME

Through my lens and prose I hope to instill a greater sense of awe, compassion and inspiration as I discover new creatures, explore interesting habitats, and gain wisdom about the natural world that’s all around us. It is my hope that readers are motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation.

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 35 years, I worked in education as both a teacher and administrator, guiding students through the wonders of science and the joy of discovery. That same spirit of curiosity has carried me through decades of volunteer work in citizen science and conservation. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain