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

Good eye Lisa, beautiful photos as always. Most field marks on this bird are better for Gambel's than California Quail. The light forecrown/base to the bill is problematic for Gambel's, but may be fine. Above my pay grade on that one, but would lend itself to thoughts of hybridization. And any presence of Gambel's Quail, if it's a pure bird would cause question as to its origin (i.e. released birds like our regular Chukar reports). 
Bob Power
Oakland, CA


--- On Sun, 5/3/09, Lisa and Robb  wrote:

> From: Lisa and Robb 
> Subject: [EBB Sightings] Help with Quail id, please -- could it be Gambel's?
> To: "East Bay Birds Sightings" 
> Date: Sunday, May 3, 2009, 8:12 PM
> 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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