[EBB Sightings] Help with Quail id, please -- could it be Gambel's?

	<251317.97678.qm at web82807.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Thanks for this Bob.  I really like the systematic approach you are
suggesting here, so I guess I do want to try it at home!   And of
course reading it made me go back to the photo and go through your
list.  I can't disagree with any of your analysis.

It was interesting to see how my perceptions and evaluation changed
once you pointed out certain things.  For example I was seeing the
articulated neck feathers as tilting towards California Quail - but
after hearing your idea that there is no black and white flecking, and
that there is no black border at the back edge of the white stripe, I
do see what you mean.  That neck really isn't very California
Quailish.

Now as for the boogie legs - I'm going to wait for the video ...

Robert

On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 10:01 PM, Bob Power  wrote:
> Robert, when I see an interesting bird photo, I try to start at the top and work my way down. Here's what I see. Other results may differ, you may or may not want to try this at home (although, there aren't a lot of other options):
> Top-knot: Odd/molted/hacked off in a knife-fight. No opinion as to species.
> Crown: Deep cinnamon-orange. Nod to Gambel's.
> Supercilium and upper black border: No opinion to species.
> Forecrown: whitish w/a chunk of something. May be another remnant of the knife-fight. Nod to California Quail.
> Eye and chin: No opinion as to species.
> Post-ocular vertical stripe: white and tapering narrowly at bottom and no dark border on the neck side of the stripe: Nod to Gambel's.
> Neck: Gray with articulated feathers, but essentially all gray. No black and white flecking. Nod to Gambel's.
> Light gray chest.... toss-up.
> Upper belly: unmarked, no scales. Gambel's.
> Middle-lower belly: black patch: Gambel's.
> Streaks on flanks look intermediate to both species. Color of flanks looks intermediate to both species.
> Legs look like they want to boogie.
> Bob Power
> Oakland, CA
>> From: Robert Clark 
>> Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] Help with Quail id, please -- could it be ?Gambel's?
>> To: "Lisa and Robb" 
>> Cc: "East Bay Birds Sightings" 
>> Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009, 8:39 PM
>> ?Interesting pictures.
>>
>> I should start by pointing out that I am not a quail
>> expert, and I'm
>> just reasoning about what I am seeing and reading my
>> Sibley's, but
>> given that ...
>>
>> I am thinking that despite this seeming atypical it is
>> probably a
>> California Quail. ?I notice that it seems to have a light
>> forhead, and
>> that the belly looks scaled rather than unmarked. ?The
>> patch is
>> problematic, yes, but it seems to be at the top of the
>> belly rather
>> than farther down as is shown for Gamel's. ?I'm
>> really not sure about
>> this - but could this be a brood-patch?
>>
>> Another minor point - the back of the neck seems to have
>> white
>> feather-tips as is shown for California Quail.
>>
>> So I would guess "weird looking California
>> Quail".
>>
>> What do other people think?
>>
>> Good birding!
>>
>> Robert
>>
>> On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 9:12 PM, Lisa and Robb
>>  wrote:
>> > Robb and I went out cycling at Arrowhead Marsh this
>> afternoon. ?In addition to three very feisty and vocal
>> California Clapper Rails, and many of the Usual Suspects, we
>> saw a covey of quail.
>> >
>> > Now, that would be weird enough, considering how
>> urbanized this location is.
>> >
>> > But when I got home, and uploaded the photos and
>> compared them to my books, I'm left with a lot of doubt
>> about the identification of this bird. ?(This, sadly, is
>> not unusual for me.)
>> >
>> > I've posted photos of the male and one of the
>> females, as well as a single egg that was laying on the
>> ground on my blog (address below). ?What I'm seeing
>> that confuses me is
>> >
>> > 1. the range map
>> > 2. the really shocking red hair-do on Mister Quail
>> > 3. the relatively plain belly, with the dark blotch
>> >
>> > Can anyone give me some clues about what we saw?
>> >
>> > Lisa Lazar
>> > Oakland
>> >
>> >
>> http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2009/05/whats-that-quail-robert.html
>> >
>> >
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