California Quail
Callipepla californica
Appearance
Range & Habitat
Reciprocal Relationships
California quails lay an average of 15 eggs in early summer and the eggs take just over 20 days to hatch. Both parents look after the eggs and the new chicks can run within an hour of hatching. Quails are threatened by hunting and capture.
These birds are not native to B.C., hence their California quail name. When non-native birds become introduced, sometimes they can outcompete our native bird species for seeds, nuts and insects. However, this bird has created new food for predators in the area. While these birds hold little significance to First Nations in B.C., they are a very important species for the Ohlone people of California.