Quails

Quails belong to the pheasant family.These are medium-sized bird.Certain species of Quail are hunted in the wild or on farms,raised to be coocked,or even produce eggs.California Quail is a handsome ,round soccer ball of a bird with a rich gray beast intricately scaled underparts,and a curious,forward-drooping head plume.They found in other brushy areas of California and the Northwest.They have been introduced to many other parts of the world.including Hawaii,Europe,and Newzealand.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           California Quail nests can contain as many as 28 eggs.These large clutches may be the result of females laying eggs in nests other than their own,a  behaviour known as "egg-dumping".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Quail mainly a seed eater,also eats leaves,flowers,catkins,grain, monzanita and poison oak berries,acorns,and invertebrates such as caterpillars,beetles,mites,millipedes,and snails.Diet is typically about 70% vegetarian.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                I'll  normally see California Quail walking,running,or scratching at the ground and leaf litter of seeds and other food.The occasionally forage in trees.California Quails generally forage in open areas but stay close to cover.When running ,they can move amazingly quickly despite their short legs.If pressed by a predator they will burst into flight with rapid,whirring  wingbeats. California Quail from flocks known as coveys in fall and winter,these usually contain family groups and can number more than 75 individuals.They roost in trees and feed mainly in the morning and evening,spending most of the day in shrubs that shade them from the sun and protect them fro preadators.