Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Photo taken at Camp Creek, northeast of Carefree, Maricopa Co., Arizona. March 2009.
These active birds travel in groups of several to more than a dozen prefering to run along the ground to flying. They use insects as food especially during the nesting period. At other times they subsist on seeds, fruits and tender plant sprouts.
During breeding season(s) the males often call from a conspicuous perch. The sound is dear to naturalists who enjoy hiking and studying the Sonoran Desert. Listen to Gambel's Quail calls at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.