California Quail – Flushing, Egg Dumping, and Dust Bathing

When you hear a plaintive, high-pitched call, it’s probably an anxious lone quail searching for its flock. Callipepla californica, the California Quail, is a social animal who lives in coveys ranging from 10 to 200 birds (depending on the time of year).

As long as they have enough cover, food, and space this animal can live successfully among humans. Each bird requires at least one acre of land to support it – this land needs to be continuous since they prefer running to flying. When startled, quail will make a fast, short flight known as ‘flushing.’

Coveys feed early in the morning. Their diet includes; insects, caterpillars, plant parts, seeds, leaves, some berries (including poison oak berries), and acorns (if they’ve been cracked). Quail have protozoans in their intestines that help digest plant materials. (Chicks get the protozoans by pecking adult feces).

Often quail can often be observed scratching the ground like chickens in their quest for food. While the flock is feeding, the male leader perches in a high spot, keeping watch. He makes different calls, letting them know what is going on.

An adaptation that quail have for living in dry environments is that they can get adequate moisture from insects and succulents. In sustained periods of drought, however, they do need a water source. Quail remain in their habitats year round, staying within 10 miles of where they were hatched.

To keep themselves looking good, quail take dust baths. This abolition usually takes place in a sunny location with loose soil. Squatting in the dirt, they burrow in, one to two inches deep. Ruffling, flapping wings, and wiggling, they send a plume of particles into the air. The dust bath helps maintain oil on their feathers.

Pit-pit call alerting the covey of possible danger.

California quail form breeding pairs. Ratios are such that there are more males than females, so males must compete for partners. The male’s topknot, consisting of six overlapping feathers, and his, ‘I’m available call,’ help differentiate from others.

When it is time to nest, the female lays between 12 to 16 brown speckled eggs – perfectly camouflaged for their environment. Especially large broods (as many as 28 chicks!) occur when a female does egg-dumping, lays her eggs in an already occupied nest. Females sit on her eggs for about three weeks. Both males and females take turns caring for the chicks once they are hatched.

It takes approximately six weeks for chicks to reach maturity.