top of page
a northern bobwhite quail walking on dirt
A scaled quail standing on grass

Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

​

  • Has the largest range of all native quail, most of the Eastern US

  • Bobwhite quail roost in a circle with their heads facing out

  • Natural habitat ranges from pine forests to grasslands to areas around agricultural fields

Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)

​

  • Found in the American Southwest and into Texas and Mexico

  • Natural habitat is desert areas with sparse grasslands with few shrubs and cacti

a male montezuma / mearns qual walking on dirt and rocks next to a cactus

Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae)

​

  • Found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, but mainly found in Mexico

  • Natural habitat is pine-oak forests with perennial grasses

  • Also known as the Mearns Quail

two mountain quail running across sand, dirt, and rocks

Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)

​

  • Found in high mountain areas of the west coast, Idaho, and into Mexico

  • Natural habitat ranges from desert scrub to mixed or coniferous woodlands

  • Largest Quail in North America

a male Gambels quail standing on top of a rock

Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

​

  • Found in Utah

  • Found in deserts across the Southwest US

  • Natural habitat is hot deserts below an elevation of 5,500 feet

  • Would rather run from danger than fly away

A male and female California quail walking through green grass

California Quail (Callipepla californica)

​

  • Found in Utah

  • Found in the West coast states, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and into Mexico

  • The head plume is made of 6 feathers not just 1

a male ring necked pheasant walking through a field with grass

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

​

  • Found in Utah

  • Found across the northern half of the continental US

  • Introduced to North America from Asia

  • Prefer to glide than actively fly

©2018 USU Extension - Wildlife Rangeland Habitat Lab

bottom of page