Quaglia squamata Callipepla squamata

Quaglia Squamata (Callipepla Squamata)

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Aves

Order:Galliformes

Family:Odontophoridae

Genus:Callipepla

Species:C. squamata

Binomial name

Callipepla squamata

The Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), also commonly called Blue Quail or cottontop, is a species of the New World quail family. It is a bluish gray bird found in the arid regions of the Southwestern United States to Central Mexico. This species is an early offshoot of the genus Callipepla, diverging in the Pliocene.[2]This bird is named for the scaly appearance of its breast and back feathers. Along with its scaly markings, the bird is easily identified by its white crest that resembles a tuft of cotton.

The nest is typically a grass-lined hollow containing 9–16 speckled eggs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly.

Scaled quail occur from south-central Arizona, northern New Mexico, east-central Colorado,[3] and southwestern Kansas south through western Oklahoma and western and central Texas into Mexico to northeastern Jalisco, Guanajuato, Queretaru, Hidalgo, and western Tamaulipas. It has been introduced to Hawaii, central Washington, eastern Nevada, and Nebraska, but is only considered established in central Washington and eastern Nevad

Scaled Quail are opportunistic eaters.[5] Seeds are consumed year-round. Large seeds (such as those of mesquite and snakeweed) are important in Scaled Quail diets.[21] Other seeds include those of elbowbush (Forestiera angustifolia), catclaw acacia, mesquite, hackberry (Celtis spp.), Russian-thistle, rough pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), and sunflowers, ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.), and other Asteraceous plants.[8] Scaled Quail consume more grass seeds than do other quail species.[8] Other dietary components include leaves, fruits, and insects. Summer diets are high in green vegetation and insects, which are also important sources of moisture.