Photo: Francisco Farriols Sarabia / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Elegant Quail
Callipepla douglasii
Elegant Quail (Callipepla douglasii) — Gamebirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Elegant Quail (Callipepla douglasii) is a member of the Odontophoridae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 177 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Odontophoridae New World Quail
- Genus Callipepla
- Species douglasii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 177 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Elegant Quail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Elegant Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Elegant Quail (Callipepla douglasii) belongs to the Odontophoridae family of the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA w Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 177 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 119,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Elegant Quail?
The Elegant Quail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 177 g.
Where does the Elegant Quail live?
The Elegant Quail is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA w Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Elegant Quail belong to?
The Elegant Quail (Callipepla douglasii) belongs to the Odontophoridae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Elegant Quail eat?
The Elegant Quail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Elegant Quail migrate?
The Elegant Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Elegant Quail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Elegant Quail make?
1 real field recording of the Elegant Quail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Elegant Quail's range?
The Elegant Quail has a mapped global range of about 119,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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