California State Bird: California Quail
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
California State Bird – California Quail
California designated the California Quail as its official state bird in 1931 after students across the state voted in a public contest. Adults show a comma-shaped topknot and give a clear chi-ca-go call. Populations stay through the year in chaparral and grasslands. The species appears widely across the western United States.
Why California Chose the California Quail as the State Bird
California schoolchildren picked the California Quail (Callipepla californica) as the state bird in 1931. The Legislature made it official on February 26, 1931. Governor James Rolph Jr. signed the designation into law the same day.
Students favored the California Quail over several other birds. Its comma-shaped topknot plume made it easy to recognize, and its clear chi-ca-go call echoed across hillsides each spring.
California’s chaparral, oak woodlands, and grasslands provide ideal habitat. The quail lived here long before European settlement. Native Californians hunted quail for food for thousands of years.
Early California missions recorded quail flocks so large they covered the ground. Market hunters in the 1800s shipped thousands to San Francisco restaurants. Despite heavy hunting pressure, the bird remained widespread. Its resilience reflects the persistence often associated with California’s early communities.
History of Adoption: Legislation & Timeline
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Pre-1850s — Native California Period
Native peoples including Chumash, Ohlone, and Miwok tribes hunted California Quail for food. Archaeological sites show quail bones dating back thousands of years. Tribes used nets and snares to catch coveys.
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1850-1900 — Market Hunting Era
The Gold Rush created high demand for wild game. Market hunters trapped thousands of quail weekly. San Francisco restaurants featured quail on menus. Rail shipments carried California Quail to eastern cities packed in ice.
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1927 — First State Bird Proposal
California Audubon Society proposed adopting a state bird. Candidates included the Western Meadowlark, California Condor, and California Quail. The Legislature took no action that year.
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1931 — School Vote Campaign
The California Federation of Women's Clubs organized a statewide school vote. Students in elementary and middle schools voted in classrooms across the state. The quail won by a wide margin over other birds.
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February 26, 1931 — Official Designation
The California Legislature formally designated the California Quail as the state bird. Governor James Rolph Jr. signed the measure on the same day.
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Current Law
The California Government Code states: 'The California valley quail (Lophortyx californica) is the official State bird.'
Symbolism & Cultural Meaning
Pioneer Spirit
California Quail reflect the pioneer spirit of early Californians. They walk more than they fly, covering long distances on foot. They rely on the land much as early settlers did.
Community and Family
Quail live in coveys of 20 to 100 birds. Family groups stay together throughout the year. Their strong social bonds mirror the diverse communities of California.
California Agriculture Connection
Ranchers and farmers often see California Quail on their land. The bird thrives near agricultural areas and symbolizes the link between wild landscapes and working lands.
Year-Round California Resident
California Quail remain in the state year-round. Their constant presence reflects Californians’ enduring connection to their home.
Physical Characteristics
The Famous Topknot
The comma-shaped topknot plume has six overlapping feathers. Males show black plumes; females have brown ones. The plume bobs forward when the bird walks. This feature makes the California Quail one of the most recognizable quail species in North America.
Male Plumage
Chestnut-brown crown with white stripes. Black face outlined in white. Blue-gray chest and back. Black-and-white scaled belly. Chestnut-brown sides with white streaks.
Female Plumage
Soft brown tones. Gray-brown head without bold face markings. Scaled belly with lower contrast. Smaller brown topknot. Excellent camouflage for ground nesting.
Size and Build
Round body with short tail. Strong legs for running. Small rounded wings. Males weigh slightly more than females. Their stocky build helps them move through dense brush.
Behavior & Habits
The Chi-ca-go Call
Males give a loud three-note chi-ca-go call from high perches. They also produce a ka-KAA-kow sound. Females make low pit-pit-pit calls to keep the covey together. The alarm call is a sharp chip-chip-chip repeated quickly.
Daily Activity Pattern
California Quail feed most actively at dawn and dusk. They rest in shade during midday heat. Coveys roost together in trees at night while one bird stays alert.
Diet Throughout the Year
Spring–Summer: green leaves, flower petals, insects for chicks. Fall–Winter: seeds from grasses, legumes, and forbs. Year-round: acorns when available. Chicks feed mainly on insects during their first two weeks.
Breeding Behavior
Males establish territories in March. Courtship displays include head-bobbing and wing-drooping. Females nest on the ground under dense cover. Clutch size is typically 12–16 eggs, among the largest for North American birds. Both parents guard chicks, and families join larger coveys by late summer.
Habitat & Conservation in California
Where to Find California Quail in California
Coastal scrub from San Diego to Mendocino County. Oak woodlands in Sierra Nevada foothills. Chaparral throughout the Coast Ranges. Suburban parks and gardens with cover. Agricultural edges with hedgerows. Found from sea level to about 5,000 feet.
Perfect California Quail Habitat
Open ground for feeding, dense brush for cover, a nearby water source, and dust-bathing areas. Low roosting trees or large shrubs complete ideal habitat in California’s Mediterranean climate.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern globally and in California. Populations are stable statewide. Declines occur in some agricultural areas due to pesticides. Development reduces habitat in certain regions. Drought affects food and water availability.
Threats to California Quail
Outdoor cats take many birds. Development fragments habitat. Removal of hedgerows and brush reduces cover. Non-native birds compete for resources. Extended drought limits food.
How to Help California Quail in California
- Plant native shrubs like ceanothus and toyon
- Provide shallow water sources in summer
- Keep outdoor cats indoors
- Leave brush piles in gardens for cover
- Support rangeland conservation
- Avoid pesticides that reduce insect populations
- Plant native grasses and wildflowers for seeds
Interesting Facts About California's State Bird
Fact 1 of 15
California Quail can run up to 12 miles per hour
California Quail Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the California Quail. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Official California law designating the California valley quail as state bird. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
State wildlife agency information on quail biology, habitat, and hunting regulations. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Identification, sounds, behavior, and range information. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Field guide information and natural history. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Encyclopedia article on taxonomy, range, and cultural significance. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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