Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is in the New World Quails family (Odontophoridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 18,052 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Gambel's Quail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Gambel's Quail
The Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the Colorado River region of Baja California. The Gambel's quail is named in honor of William Gambel, a 19th-century naturalist and explorer of the Southwestern United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Gambel's Quail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 11,109 | April | Nov–Aug |
| California | 2,733 | March | Oct–Jun |
| New Mexico | 1,618 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Nevada | 1,492 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Texas | 563 | April | Mar–May |
| Utah | 362 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Colorado | 146 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Idaho | 19 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Hawaii | 7 | August | Jul–Aug |
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 Gambel's Quail?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to August.
Where is Gambel's Quail most often seen?
The most observations come from Arizona, California, New Mexico.