Quails » Black, forward-tilting, teardrop-shaped crest » Pale buff forehead » Dark brown cap » Black face » White border to face » Blackish nape stippled with white spotting » Dark blue-gray chest » Brown back and upperwings » Buff belly with darker scaly markings and chestnut center » Brown flanks with white streaks

The California quail is a small, plump bird with a short black beak. The male has a gray chest, and brown back and wings. It has a black throat with white stripes and a brown cap on its head. The female has a gray or brown head and back and a lighter speckled chest and belly. Both the male and the female have a curved black crown feather on their foreheads. The male's crown feather is larger than the females. The California quail is sometimes called the valley quail. The California quail eats seeds, plant parts like buds, and sometimes insects. They feed in flocks in the early morning.Males often compete for a mate. They will mate with only one female. Females usually lay between 12-16 cream and brown speckled eggs. Their nest is a shallow hollow or scrape in the ground that is lined with grass. The female incubates the eggs for about three weeks. Both parents will care for the chicks. The chicks leave the nest after shortly after birth. They make their first attempts at flight when they are about 10 days old. They will stay on the ground for about a month and then will roost in trees with the rest of the flock. The female usually has one brood a year.