California Quail (Callipepla californica) is in the New World Quails family (Odontophoridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 38,428 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph California Quail: observations by month (U.S.)
About California Quail
The California quail (Callipepla californica), also known as the California valley quail or valley quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. These birds have a curving crest or plume, made of six feathers, that droops forward: black in males and brown in females; the flanks are brown with white streaks. Males have a dark brown cap and a black face with a brown back, a grey-blue chest and a light brown...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
California Quail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 29,990 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Oregon | 2,751 | May | Mar–Dec |
| Washington | 1,941 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Utah | 1,815 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Idaho | 1,125 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Nevada | 609 | June | Apr–Jan |
| Montana | 127 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Hawaii | 43 | March | Feb–Jul |
| Alabama | 7 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Quails)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph California Quail?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from March to October.
Where is California Quail most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.