{"id":107621,"date":"2022-10-31T03:58:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T09:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=107621"},"modified":"2022-10-31T04:08:20","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T10:08:20","slug":"autumn-california-quail-covey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/10\/31\/autumn-california-quail-covey\/","title":{"rendered":"Autumn California Quail Covey"},"content":{"rendered":"

While walking along the Jordan River yesterday, I came upon a covey of about 25 California Quail. I was able to get close enough to photograph a few of them.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale California Quail on an urban trail \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had my Nikkor 70-300mm lens attached to my Nikon D500 so I didn’t have the reach that I have with my much heavier, longer lens. My stalking skills were needed to get these images. I walked up to the quail very slowly and tried to be nonthreatening.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale California Quail in an urban setting \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The last time I walked along the river I could hear the quail<\/span><\/a> but could not get clear views of them. Yesterday several of the quail were calling while I photographed them. There were both males and females in the group.<\/p>\n

\"ForagingForaging California Quail male in autumn leaves \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The autumn colored leaves in my photos of the California Quail delighted me. Additionally, I liked how well the quail stood out from what is a busy setting.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Quail male and fall leaves \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn’t have much time with these urban California Quail because a jogger came by and the birds became anxious and disappeared into the bushes next to the trail. I made the most of the time I had with these quail.<\/p>\n

The temp was below freezing when I arrived at the river to walk. I had a fleece jacket on but next time I head down to the river I think I will need thicker socks and a pair of gloves. I need to keep my hands and feet warm!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Happy Halloween everyone!<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my California Quail photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While walking along the Jordan River yesterday, I came upon a covey of about 25 California Quail. I was able to get close enough to photograph a few of them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":107610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1203,758,709,26],"tags":[4004,970,6264,6263,5388,4620,4070,5679,6583,4062,6265,6843,3973,401,8018,30],"class_list":["post-107621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-california-quails","category-jordan-river-trail","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-california-quail","tag-callipepla-californica","tag-covey","tag-fall","tag-female","tag-leaf","tag-leaves","tag-male","tag-quail","tag-quails","tag-salt-lake-county","tag-upland-game-birds","tag-urban","tag-utah-2"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/california-quail-autumn-mia-mcpherson-3056.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-rZP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54792,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/10\/27\/more-california-quail-in-my-viewfinder\/","url_meta":{"origin":107621,"position":0},"title":"More California Quail In My Viewfinder","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I photographed a small covey of California Quail, this the second time this month that I have seen and photographed these small upland game birds that have wiggly, little head plumes.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male California Quail running in morning light, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/california-male-running-mia-mcpherson-4146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/california-male-running-mia-mcpherson-4146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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California Quail crossing a sidewalk, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-male-sidewalk-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-male-sidewalk-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-male-sidewalk-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-male-sidewalk-mia-mcpherson-7685.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55080,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/11\/21\/november-california-quail-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":107621,"position":2},"title":"November California Quail In Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I think that both male and female California Quail are striking birds with their head plumes, facial feather patterns, earth toned plumage and scaled underparts so whenever I see them I want to photograph them.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffed up female and male California Quail, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/california-quail-male-female-mia-mcpherson-1246.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/california-quail-male-female-mia-mcpherson-1246.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/california-quail-male-female-mia-mcpherson-1246.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/california-quail-male-female-mia-mcpherson-1246.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":112677,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/17\/california-quail-male-on-the-run\/","url_meta":{"origin":107621,"position":3},"title":"California Quail Male On The Run","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It was windy yesterday morning so I went for a walk at a local park. Before I even turned off my Jeep I could hear several California Quail calling.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Spring California Quail male on the run, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/california-quail-male-spring-grasses-mia-mcpherson-8765.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/california-quail-male-spring-grasses-mia-mcpherson-8765.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/california-quail-male-spring-grasses-mia-mcpherson-8765.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/california-quail-male-spring-grasses-mia-mcpherson-8765.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49709,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/12\/06\/winter-views-of-california-quail-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":107621,"position":4},"title":"Winter Views of California Quail in Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I was able to photograph several California Quail in snow yesterday in Davis County, Utah and I was also able to listen to at least one male calling.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male California Quail running in snow, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-snow-male-mia-mcpherson-0191.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-snow-male-mia-mcpherson-0191.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-snow-male-mia-mcpherson-0191.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-snow-male-mia-mcpherson-0191.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60665,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/04\/male-california-quail-on-a-rock-at-farmington-bay-wma\/","url_meta":{"origin":107621,"position":5},"title":"Male California Quail On A Rock At Farmington Bay WMA","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I haven't had any California Quail in my viewfinder since last December so a when I had the chance to photograph a male at Farmington Bay WMA nine days ago I was happy.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"California Quail male on a rock, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/california-quail-male-rock-mia-mcpherson-0714.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/california-quail-male-rock-mia-mcpherson-0714.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/california-quail-male-rock-mia-mcpherson-0714.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 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