The Scaled quail is a ground-dwelling bird of the southwestern desert grasslands of the United States. It is a member of the New World quail family, and it is also commonly called as Blue quail or Cottontop. It is an early offshoot of the genus Callipepla, diverging in the Pliocene.
The Scaled quail is named for the scally appearance of it’s breast and back feathers. Along with the scally markings, the bird is easily identified by it’s white crest that resembles a tuft of cotton.
Today these birds are available from south-central Arizona, northern New Mexico, east-central Colorado,[3] and southwestern Kansas south through western Oklahoma and western and central Texas into Mexico to northeastern Jalisco, Guanajuato, Queretaru, Hidalgo, and western Tamaulipas.
Along with the availability of these birds in their native area, they have also been introduced to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Currently the Scaled quail is widespread and common throughout it’s range. It is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Read some more information about this quail breed below.
Scaled Quail Characteristics
The Scaled quails are medium-sized birds. Their overall color is pale gray with bushy white crest. They have finely scaled pattern over neck, chest and belly
Average body length of the mature birds is between 25 and 35 cm, and their average wingspan is around 38 cm.
Average live body weight of the mature Scaled quail is between 177 and 191 grams. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Uses
The Scaled quail is raised as pets or as a hobby.
Special Notes
The Scaled quails are highly social birds, and they live in large groups. They are very good runners and generally run from predators.
They roost in groups on the ground and form a small circle with their heads facing outward. They are monogamous and unmated males call for attracting mates throughout the breeding season.
Scaled quails hide their nests on the ground within dense vegetation. Common food of these birds include seeds from forbs, shrubs or grains.
They also eat insects sometimes, especially in the spring. Most clutches of the Scaled quail is between 12 and 14 eggs.
The eggs are generally incubated by the females for about 21 to 23 days. However, review full breed profile of the Scaled quail in the following chart.
| Breed Name | Scaled |
| Other Names | Cottontop, Blue quail |
| Breed Purpose | Pets, hobby |
| Special Notes | Very strong and hardy birds, active, generally a ground-living bird, they spend most of their time on the ground, they are highly social birds and generally live in large groups, very good runners, roost in groups on the ground and form a small circle with their heads facing outward |
| Species | New World Quail |
| Weight | Between 177 and 191 grams |
| Climate Tolerance | Almost all climates |
| Egg Color | Creamy, speckled with light brown |
| Egg Size/Weight | 8 to 13 grams |
| Egg Productivity | 12-14 eggs clutch size |
| Body Color | Pale gray with bushy white crest |
| Rarity | Common |
| Country/Place of Origin | United States |
