Scaled Quail
One
of six quail species native to the United States, the scaled
quail (Callipepla squamata) is one of the most distinguished.
They're dressed in bluish-gray and buff tones with black tipped
feathers on the breast, neck and back, giving them a scaled
appearance and a unique name. These birds are 11 inches long on
average and weigh between five and seven ounces. They have a
wingspan of 14 inches. Both the male and female are topped with
a white, cotton-like crest on their head. There are a few
differences between the two, one being that a female will have
light stripes on her chin. The crest and coloring of scaled
quail have also earned them the nicknames cottontop and blue
quail. There are several calls made by the various quail
species, the “scalie's” being a two-syllable “pe-cos” sound.
Scaled quail are found mainly in the Southwest in parts of
Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, and of course, the
Oklahoma panhandle. Small populations also exist in southwest
Oklahoma.
They prefer open grasslands strewn with shrubbery and mesquite,
though in some areas they thrive with almost no ground cover at
all. The scaled quail is a runner, able to reach speeds above 15
miles per hour. Grasslands offer little cover, so this quail,
the fastest of them all, is able to see and outrun predators
from some distance off. Scaled quail are very nervous birds, and
even if flushed, will return to running once back on the ground.
Scaled quail can be seen in the early mornings and late
afternoons feeding on sunflowers, cactus, green vegetation, and
a variety of other plants and seasonal seeds. These quail also
feed on insects such as beetles and grasshoppers. They are not
totally dependent on water sources, as much of the moisture they
receive is obtained from what they eat. Still, they will use
water sources when available.
Scaled quail live in groups, called coveys, throughout the
winter months. Any given covey consists of 20 to more than 50
birds. They roost together in circles, tail to tail, which helps
reduce their vulnerability to predators.
Coveys break up in the spring to form breeding pairs. This
begins as early as April. Like turkeys, the male will strut for
females, but rarely will they become physically aggressive with
competing males. The female will lay 12 to 14 eggs in a
ground-based nest, often built under brush, shrubs or a cactus
to avoid harsh weather and predators. After 22 days, the eggs
hatch, after which the chicks waste little time developing. They
are running and keeping up with their parents within a day's
time, and by 12 weeks old, they are about as big as the adults.
Coveys are formed again in the fall when the chicks branch out
from their parents and brood mates. The chicks are ready to
reproduce during their first year. This fast growth and
reproduction rate helps sustain scaled quail populations.
Scaled quail may attempt nesting a second time if their first
nest is destroyed by the weather. Predation by skunks, hawks or
foxes may also trigger renesting attempts. Along with harsh
weather and predators, overgrazing of livestock also poses a
threat to scaled quail habitat. Regulated hunting, however, has
little impact on the overall population.
Be alert, and you may find note of the scaled quail's presence.
Your ears will perk if you hear its “pe-cos” call on a calm
Oklahoma evening, and with its notable cottontop crest and scaly
appearance, you just might recognize a covey of these “blue
quail” crossing an old country road.