California State Bird

California state bird: CaliforniaQuail Callipepla californica

California State Bird Description:

Size: 9 to 11 inches (24-27 cm)
Wingspan: 13 - 15 inches (32-37 cm)
Weight: 4.94 to 8.12 ounces (140-230 g)

The California Quail has an overall color of blue-grey andbrown. The crown is chestnut colored with streaking along the sides. Ithas a distinctive black and white pattern on the face and the belly hasblack and brown feather tips which makes the California Quail looklike it has scaled underparts.

California Quail can be identified by their prominent teardrop-shapedplume or a double plume on the forehead. The males and females havethe same markings except the males have a black throat and the femaleshave more of a greyish colored throat with black streaks.

Habitat:

California Quail are found in open woodlands, bushy foothills, valleyswith streams, suburbs and agricultural land.

Range:

Diet:

The California Quail's diet includes seeds, leaves, flowers, andinsects. They will also eat fruits and berries, when available.

Nesting:

Californis Quail's nests are made in depressions in the ground. Theyare lined with grass and weed stems. The clutch may contain as manyas 28 eggs, with 13 to 17 eggs being the average. If the pair isnot successful on their first attempt, they then make a second nestingattempt later in the summer.

A Few Things You Probably Didn't Know About the CaliforniaState Bird:

Several California Quail broods may mixafter hatching and are attended by all of the parents of those broods.Adults that engage in communal brooding live longer than adults that do not.
California Quail are quite social. Duringthe fall season they travel in small groups, called coveys.These coveys vary in size and typically range from 25 to 40 birds, butcoveys in excess of 1000 birds have been reported.
California Quail take "dust baths".They will use their underbellies to burrow downward into the soil some1-2 inches. They then wriggle about in the indentations they havecreated, flapping their wings and ruffling their feathers, causing dustto rise in the air.

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