Calluses with scales - Callipepla squamata

Scaly quail is a symbol of California state - USA, scientific name is Callipepla squamata. The reason is considered "scaly" because their strange coat is blue-gray, the end of each feather has a black border, When viewed far away, it feels like they have scales. Callipepla squamata quail is small and quite dwarf, has a crest on its head, its body is about 28cm long.

(Photo: filin.vn.ua)

In autumn and winter, they get together, forming large swarms of 20-200 heads. As the winter gradually passed, the amount of birds in the flock gradually decreased because humans hunted, for carnivorous animals or for weather and other causes.

When Spring returns, the large herds separate each couple and each pair begins the breeding process. The appearance of males and females is very similar, so it is difficult to distinguish.

The breeding season starts in April, may last until September. Callipepla squamata birds nest in soil, the nest is lined with grass and feathers. For each litter, the mother lays between 9-16 eggs, in which case the female lays more than 60 eggs in a season. Only a mother bird alone incubates eggs for a period of 21 days. The mother bird also takes care of the chicks. From the very beginning, the young bird left the nest with the mother bird and also found her own food.

Callipepla squamata bird food consists of 30% insect, along with many plants.

Their ability to tolerate dry climates is very good : They live without drinking lots of water. Their drinking water has a unit of count, a scaly quail can drink dew drops, eat succulent fruits, and insects. This bird does not need water like other birds, there are many Callipepla squamata stations far from where there are many countries. Living in dry places, they have to eat a lot of food so that the body has enough water.

Even though the birds used to live in arid places, they also liked the water holes. They also drink plenty of water if the water has cassava.

(Photo: premier1) Although being hunted much in the West - United States, the number of these species has only decreased slowly during the past 40 years. This result is due to the fact that Callipepla squamata is capable of escaping very skillfully in nature.

They are very agile, prefer to run rather than fly . They like places where they can maximize their ability to run fast . When threatened, they often fly a short distance, glide quickly to the ground, then run quickly before hiding into a place that can hide. It is these escape skills that make them very difficult to catch. Hunters are often disappointed when they have just seen a herd of quail, which is when they disappear into trees and grass. Coat colors are easy to disguise.

If they are threatened by something while hiding, they will fly up far away and run away before entering another hiding place. They are also very careful: their sleeping quarters have nothing to cover their heads, to make them easy to fly whenever there is danger.

Callipepla squamata is mainly distributed in Mexico and the West - United States. People worship them and raise them as poultry, but it is difficult to tame them. This bird is shy, likes to sneak into hiding places. No matter how familiar they are, owners cannot call them to eat when they hold food in their hands.

(Photo: mbr-pwrc)