The California Quail was designated the official state
bird of California in 1931.
From the California State Library: The California Quail
The California quail (Lophortyx californica),
also known as the valley quail, became the official
state bird in 1931. A widely distributed and prized
game bird, it is known for its hardiness and adaptability.
Plump, gray-colored and smaller than a pigeon,
the California quail sports a downward curving
black plume on top of its head and black bib with
white stripe under the beak. Flocks number from a
few to 60 or more in the fall and winter months,
but in the spring break into pairs. They nest in
hollows scratched in the ground and concealed by
foliage, and their eggs, 6 to 28 in number, are
creamy white and thickly spotted with golden brown.
FDA California Quail Profile
Includes a photo of the California Quail and information
about the bird's feeding habits, call, natural distribution,
introduced distribution, and the crop damage it has sometimes
caused.
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