The Mountain Quail is the largest quail native to the United States and the hardest of them to see, keeping to dense brush on steep slopes from Washington down through California. Two long, straight head plumes — not the curved teardrop of the California Quail — stand nearly upright, and the chestnut throat and boldly barred white-and-chestnut flanks are unmistakable at close range. Unusually among quail it migrates on foot, walking up the mountain in spring and back down before snow. It is cold-hardy, native, and generally permit-controlled.
Cold hardy
Broody
Flighty
Egg colorCream
TemperamentFlighty
BroodinessOccasional
ClimateCold hardy
PurposeOrnamental
Weight
Weight8-10 oz
How to spot it
Plumage
Grey breast, olive-brown back, chestnut throat, flanks boldly barred white and chestnut
Sex differences
Sexes look alike; the hen's plumes average slightly shorter
Call
A loud, far-carrying single “queark”
Look for
Two long STRAIGHT plumes held upright — every other western quail's topknot curves forward
