California quail

American  

[kal-uh-fawrn-yuh kweyl, -fawr-nee-uh] / ˌkæl əˈfɔrn jə ˌkweɪl, -ˈfɔr ni ə /

noun

1. a grayish-brown, slightly bluish true quail, Callipepla californica, with a distinctive forward-curving plume, or topknot: inhabiting woodlands and shrubby areas of western North America, it is often confused with the Gambel's quail, but the California quail has a somewhat shorter topknot and, on the male, a dark brown cap.

---

Etymology

Origin of California quail

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

California quail

He delighted in feeding the California quail, peacocks, blue jays — and foxes in the evenings.

From New York Times ● Aug. 31, 2020

And what about the California quail, the state bird, running for cover at a pace slower than that of the advancing fire?

From Washington Post ● Nov. 16, 2018

Mice and California quail feed on newly exposed seeds on the ashen ground, and they are hunted by owls and hawks.

From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2018

This year's youth-only hunt for ducks, geese, pheasant, California quail, bobwhite and chucker is set for Sept. 24-25.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 4, 2011

But California quail can not be hunted successfully without a good dog.

From Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Payne, Harry Thom