Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ California Quail

Callipepla californica

(Shaw, 1798)

California Quail

G5Secure Found in 203 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104472
Element CodeABNLC23040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderGalliformes
FamilyOdontophoridae
GenusCallipepla
Other Common Names
Codorniz Californiana (ES) Colin de Californie (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Previous classifications (e.g. AOU 1957) placed C. californica, C. gambelii, and C. douglasii in Lophortyx, with only C. squamata in Callipepla. May hybridize with C. gambelii in southern California where ranges overlap. Study of genus Callipepla shows C. californica and C. gambelii to be sister taxa, with relationships to C. douglasii and C. squamata unclear (Zink and Blackwell 1998). Formerly in family Phasianidae; placed in family Odontophoridae by AOU (1997).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-07
Change Date1996-11-25
Range Extent Comments
RESIDENT: southern Oregon and western Nevada south to southern Baja California. Apparently introduced into southern British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, northern Oregon, and Utah. Also introduced in Hawaii (Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Hawaii), on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands (California), central Chile, Australia, and New Zealand.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Brushy, grassy and weedy areas in both humid and arid regions, including chaparral, forest edge, cultivated lands, semi-desert scrub, thickets, sagebrush and, less frequently, open second-growth woodland (AOU 1983). Usually near water. Usually nests on ground in shallow depression lined with vegetation. Sometimes nests above ground in fork of a tree branch.

Ecology

Highly gregarious, especially in fall and winter. In fall, family groups join and form coveys of 10-200 birds, which usually disband by late April. Predators include hawks, owls, snakes, coyotes.

Reproduction

Breeding begins in Jan. in south to mid-May in north. Females incubate 12-17, sometimes 6-28, eggs for 21-23 days. The precocial nestlings are active soon after hatching and are tended by both parents.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralOld fieldCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNANo
ArizonaSNANo
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahSNANo
MontanaSNANo
NevadaS5Yes
OregonSNANo
WashingtonSNANo
HawaiiSNANo
CanadaNNA
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaSNANo
Roadless Areas (203)
California (127)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Cow CreekSix Rivers National Forest1,271
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crane Mtn.Modoc National Forest1,269
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Devils GardenLassen National Forest3,335
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Horseshoe SpringsLos Padres National Forest14,089
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest13,762
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekLassen National Forest7,587
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mirada PimeLos Padres National Forest13,302
MonarchSierra National Forest697
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
SoldierModoc National Forest10,102
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Stanley MountainLos Padres National Forest14,674
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Tepusquet PeakLos Padres National Forest5,821
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Tom MartinKlamath National Forest9,031
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
West ForkAngeles National Forest1,169
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Whisky CreekInyo National Forest865
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Idaho (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Montana (2)
AreaForestAcres
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (19)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
East Fork QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,977
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - Alum CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest853
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - Hunter Lk NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest149
Rose - North NotchHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest141
Rose - VerdiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,155
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
South Fork QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest40,535
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Oregon (18)
AreaForestAcres
BuckhornWallowa-Whitman National Forest17,180
Castle RidgeWallowa-Whitman National Forest8,377
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
DeadhorseWallowa-Whitman National Forest10,690
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Lord Flat Somers PointWallowa-Whitman National Forest67,738
ReservoirWallowa-Whitman National Forest13,641
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (20)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Muddy Creek - Nelson Mt.Manti-Lasal National Forest59,034
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Public GroveWasatch-Cache National Forest6,341
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Washington (9)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Willow SpringsUmatilla National Forest10,414
References (20)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1997. Forty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 114(3):542-552.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  4. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  5. Calkins, J. D., J. C. Hagelin, and D. F. Lott. 1999. California Quail (CALLIPEPLA CALIFORNICA). No. 473 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  6. DeVos, T. and B. S. Mueller. 1993. Reproductive ecology of Northern Bobwhite in north Florida. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium III:83-89.
  7. Gutierrez, R. J., and D. J. Delehanty. 1999. Mountain Quail (OREORTYX PICTUS). No. 457 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 28pp.
  8. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  9. Johnsgard, P. A. 1988. The quails, partridges, and francolins of the world. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. 264 pp.
  10. Kosciuk, J. R. 1986. Elevated quail roosts. Section 5.1.5, US Army Corps of Engineers Wildlife Resources Management Manual. Tech. Rep. EL-86-18. Waterways Expt. Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 15 pp.
  11. Lee, J. M. 1994. Habitat ecology of Northern Bobwhite at Copiah County Wildlife Management Area. Masters thesis, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.
  12. Leopold, A.S. 1977. The California quail. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  13. Manley, S. W. 1994. Evaluation of old-field habitat manipulations for breeding Northern Bobwhites. Masters thesis, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.
  14. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  15. Pratt, H. D., P. L. Bruner, and D. G. Berrett. 1987. A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 409 pp. + 45 plates.
  16. Ridgely, R. S. 2002. Distribution maps of South American birds. Unpublished.
  17. Scott, S. L. 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
  18. Stromberg, M. R. 2000. Montezuma Quail. No. 524 IN A. Poole and F. Gill (editors), The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 20pp.
  19. Taylor, J. S., K. E. Church, D. H. Rusch, and J. R. Cary. 1999a. Macrohabitat effects on summer survival, movements, and clutch success of Northern Bobwhite in Kansas. Journal of Wildlife Management 63:675-685.
  20. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.