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

	<251317.97678.qm at web82807.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
	<1a02aead0905032140ue6ce7c8ice6a8c055bc46639 at mail.gmail.com>

All,

I cannot make this into an odd California Quail.  I think it is mostly
Gambel's as evidenced by the contrasting red crown and flank.  The forehead
on the male suggests some California Quail genes, but otherwise it looks
much better for Gambel's.

Gambel's Quail or hybrids at this locality would have to be assumed to be
released from breeding stock and not naturally occurring.  Neither species
is migratory but both are widely introduced or stocked for hunting
purposes.  

On Sun, 3 May 2009 22:40:45 -0600, Robert Clark  wrote:

>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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-- 
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA        jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu 
SF Birding Classes start Sept. 15  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
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Western Field Ornithologists       http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/