Photo: Henry / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gambel’s Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) — Gamebirds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a member of the Odontophoridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 166 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 gambelii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 166 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gambel’s 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 Gambel’s Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a member of the Odontophoridae family, within the order Galliformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw USA and nw Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 166 g, with a wing length of about 11.3 cm and a tail of around 8.8 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 542,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gambel’s Quail?
The Gambel’s Quail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 166 g.
Where does the Gambel’s Quail live?
The Gambel’s Quail is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw USA and nw Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gambel’s Quail belong to?
The Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) belongs to the Odontophoridae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Gambel’s Quail eat?
The Gambel’s Quail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Gambel’s Quail migrate?
The Gambel’s Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gambel’s 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 Gambel’s Quail make?
1 real field recording of the Gambel’s Quail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gambel’s Quail's range?
The Gambel’s Quail has a mapped global range of about 542,000 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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