California Quail

You've seen them.  They especially like to cross the road with their big entourage of quail aunts, uncles and chicks.  These extended families are called coveys and can consist of anywhere from 10 to 200 birds in the winter.  They will stay in these flocks until they pair off during mating season. 

 Male California Quails will perch on a tree or post and call out to claim their territory.  The male quail will only mate with one female and their brood will usually start out as 12-16 cream and brown speckled eggs.  The female incubates the eggs for about three weeks and both parents will care for the chicks.  The chicks will stay on the ground for about a month and then will roost in the trees with the rest of the flock.

The California quail eats seeds, plant parts like buds and sometimes insects.  They feed in flocks in th early morning hours.