Last updated on October 13th, 2022 at 03:20 pm
The valley quail has been California’s official state bird since 1931, following legislative approval through Assembly Bill 776, Chapter 777. The golden state is home to several birds, including two more species of quails.
The valley quail is California’s state bird because it is an almost unique native species with a widespread presence and thriving population. The crested quails have also been integral to the culture, diet, and history of several Native American tribes for centuries.
Reasons Why the Valley Quail Is California’s State Bird
The California valley quail’s scientific name was Lophortyx californica when it became the state bird, but the species is now called Callipepla californica.
The Genus Callipepla was created to segregate the crested species from other quails found in the New World.
California is home to two crested quails having a distinct topknot or head plume:
- California quail (Callipepla californica)
- Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii)
Both valley and Gambel’s quails have a topknot comprising six feathers that look like one since they are interlocked.
The mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), which is also found in California, has a striking crest or head plume, but it isn’t a topknot.
Since three of these species are found in California, it is only fitting to ask why the valley quail has the exclusive status as the official state bird.
The Valley Quail Is a California Native
The California valley quail is now found in many states, including:
- Idaho
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Utah
- Washington
The valley quail is also found in Canada (British Columbia) and Mexico (Baja California), but the species is mostly a California native.
In fact, its name is based on its preferred habitat, which includes all the valleys inland, extending to the coast.
The California valley quail was introduced to a few countries and some states, such as Oregon.
But the valley quail didn’t have much of a presence in Oregon until the late 19th century.
Many birds were transplanted or introduced to the state, and the species has since thrived.
Thus, the valley quail, as an indigenous species, has a rightful claim to be California’s state bird.
The Species Is Abundant in the State
The California valley quail is abundant in most counties, which is easily found and spotted.
Countless residents of the state would have had one or more valley quails looking for food on the ground somewhere nearby, almost oblivious of the presence of people.
However, the species isn’t too courageous, despite being gregarious.
Valley quails get startled easily and will run away at the first sign of trouble.
These birds rarely fly to escape unless they are in mortal danger or running isn’t really helping them get away from the threat.
Valley Quails Are Adaptable, and Hardy
The Audubon Society selected and recommended the valley quail as the avian symbol for the state, while California legislators Charles W. Fisher and Eleanor Miller introduced the legislation.
The bird was chosen partly due to its adaptability and hardiness, which reflected California’s spirit.
Valley quails are indeed a tough species of birds, despite the cute and plumpy body that’s barely 10 inches long for the adults.
The bird is granivorous but can survive on various types of food, including the following:
- Grains
- Seeds
- Fruits
- Insects
- Vegetables
California valley quails can survive without water when they feed on succulent vegetables.
They can stay hydrated this way unless the conditions are too hot and dry.
This adaptability and hardiness probably explain why there are over 5.8 million valley quails in the world, with the vast majority of them in California.
Their population is increasing, which is the main reason why the species is of least concern to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Why Is the Gambel’s Quail Not California’s State Bird?
Gambel’s quails aren’t as widespread in California as the valley quail.
While the species is abundant in much of Arizona and some parts of Mexico, Gambel’s quails are largely limited to San Bernardino and western San Diego in California.
They have a stable population, which is why the species, like valley quails, is of the least concern.
And both have had a long history associated with the Native American tribes in the region.
The topknots of these crested quails and plumage, in general, were used for various ornamental and utilitarian purposes by the indigenous people of Arizona and California, among others.
The quail was a part of the tribes’ diets, and the birds also had a sociocultural role.
The Mohaves associated the quail with earth because the modest bird is a ground feeder.
They had a tradition of using different elements as their family names, which included:
- Sky or heaven, including the sun, clouds, and rain.
- Earth-things, including the desert, animals, and plants.
- Below-earth things, including the beaver, frog, and ground squirrel.
As one of the earth-things, the quail is the source of the Mohavean family name or surname Masipa.
Since both these crested birds have a long history in the region, the California valley quail’s presence throughout the state is probably a significant reason that worked in its favor.
Why Is the Mountain Quail Not California’s State Bird?
The mountain quail has a wider presence than the Gambel’s but isn’t easy to spot.
Even if you’re up in the mountains, birding, or trekking, you may struggle to spot this bird.
Most people will probably not like having a state bird that is hard to find or not readily around.
Also, the mountain quail has a much smaller and decreasing population of about a quarter of a million.
How To Attract the California Valley Quail
You can attract the California valley quail with the same type of bird seed mix you use for all the other granivorous wild birds in your area.
But you must use a tray like this Gray Bunny Ground Bird Feeder (available on Amazon.com) so that you don’t have to spread seeds or grains around in the backyard or garden.
The 10.75 inches square Gray Bunny ground feeder is sufficiently large for valley quails.
Also, the heavy-duty steel mesh with a rust-resistant coating simplifies washing and cleaning the tray, and you can use this feeder in all weather conditions.
Can You Hunt the Valley Quail in California?
You can hunt the valley quail in California at designated zones on specific dates, but you’ll need a hunting license and abide by the daily bag limits.
Here are the dates for 2022-23:
- Mountain quail in Zone Q1: September 10 to October 14
- All quails in Zone Q1: October 15 to January 29
- All quails in Zone Q2: September 24 to January 29
- All quails in Zone Q3: October 15 to January 29
There’s an early season for those with a junior hunting license, but only in the Mojave National Preserve, which is Zone Q3. The dates are October 1 & 2.
The archery only and falconry dates are from August 20. Archery is allowed till September 9, but falconry extends to February 28.
Here are the areas comprising the 3 zones:
| Zone Q1 | Zone Q2 | Zone Q3 |
| Alpine | Marin | Regions not in Zone Q1 or Q2 |
| Butte | Napa | |
| Del Norte | Solano | |
| Glenn | Sonoma | |
| Humboldt | Lake | |
| Inyo | Mendocino | |
| Lassen | ||
| Modoc | ||
| Mono | ||
| Plumas | ||
| Shasta | ||
| Sierra | ||
| Siskiyou | ||
| Tehama | ||
| Trinity |
Zone Q1 also includes other counties but only those areas that are beyond the boundaries of the national forests. These counties are:
- Amador
- Calaveras
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Nevada
- Placer
- Tuolumne
- Tulare
- Yuba
If you enjoyed this article, we wrote another on Florida’s state bird. We explore reasons why the Mockingbird is Florida’s state bird.