{"id":55080,"date":"2018-11-21T05:14:27","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T12:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=55080"},"modified":"2024-11-03T04:14:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T10:14:54","slug":"november-california-quail-in-northern-utah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/11\/21\/november-california-quail-in-northern-utah\/","title":{"rendered":"November California Quail In Northern Utah"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MaleMale California Quail on a fence post – Nikon D500, f10, 1\/1000, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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. I had an opportunity to take photos of a small flock of these quail yesterday and even though they were on an orange toned fence I couldn’t resist firing away.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Quail male on a gate – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There were several males within the flock and I focused on them for a bit, trying to isolate single birds wasn’t easy because of how close they were to each other and how near I was to the birds.<\/p>\n

\"FluffedFluffed up female and male California Quail – Nikon D500, f13, 1\/640, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I wish I had been either a bit further away or that I had taken off my teleconverter while trying to take photos of two or more birds because of depth of field, even at f13 to f16 there were times when I couldn’t get more than one bird totally in focus.\u00a0 In this photo the male wasn’t nearly as sharply in focus as the female even at f13 but I liked this photo despite that. The female is on the left, the male is on the right in this photo.<\/p>\n

\"HenHen California Quail walking on a fence rail – Nikon D500, f13, 1\/800, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When the California Quail hen finally left the side of the male she walked along the fence rail and gate towards the south and at one point she looked like she might fly up into a tree next to the fence.<\/p>\n

\"CaliforniaCalifornia Quail hen on a fence – Nikon D500, f11, 1\/1600, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

But she turned around, perched on the gate for a few seconds and then flew to the ground behind the fence and out of my sight.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale California Quail on a fence rail – Nikon D500, f11, 1\/800, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon there was only a single male quail left on the fence and I focused on him before he also took off and disappeared behind the fence.<\/p>\n

I’m not overly fond of the orange tones of the fence in these photos but this is where these quail decided to be and I wasn’t about to pass on the chance to photograph them.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/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":"

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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136208,"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":[27,1203,1022,385,26],"tags":[6264,6263,4070,3830,898,4309,6888,4359,4062,6265,6843,401,4236],"class_list":["post-55080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-california-quails","category-davis-county-utah","category-upland-game-birds","category-utah","tag-california-quail","tag-callipepla-californica","tag-female","tag-fence","tag-fence-post","tag-fluffed-up","tag-gate","tag-hen","tag-male","tag-quail","tag-quails","tag-upland-game-birds","tag-walking"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/california-quail-male-female-mia-mcpherson-1246.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-eko","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":55080,"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, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/california-male-running-mia-mcpherson-4146.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/california-male-running-mia-mcpherson-4146.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":55080,"position":1},"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":55080,"position":2},"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 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/california-quail-male-rock-mia-mcpherson-0714.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55331,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/18\/male-california-quail-close-up-seeing-and-appreciating-the-fine-feather-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":55080,"position":3},"title":"Male California Quail Close Up – Seeing And Appreciating The Fine Feather Details","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Four days ago I was able to take close up photos of a handsome male California Quail in beautiful light while he perched on a fence rail as he looked directly towards me.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male California Quail close up, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/california-quail-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-4341.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/california-quail-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-4341.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/california-quail-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-4341.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/california-quail-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-4341.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49979,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/12\/19\/urban-birds-california-quail-at-a-local-park\/","url_meta":{"origin":55080,"position":4},"title":"Urban Birds – California Quail at a Local Park","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It isn't uncommon to see California Quail crossing sidewalks, roads and trails in the city and this photo reminded me of how well this species has adapted to living in urban areas.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male 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":54598,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/10\/14\/california-quail-hen-perched-in-a-tree-davis-county-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":55080,"position":5},"title":"California Quail Hen Perched In A Tree – Davis County, Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago I found two California Quail hens perched low in a tree in Davis County, Utah and I was delighted that one of them was out in the open in nice light.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"California Quail hen perched in a tree, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-female-hen-mia-mcpherson-0102.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-female-hen-mia-mcpherson-0102.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-female-hen-mia-mcpherson-0102.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/california-quail-female-hen-mia-mcpherson-0102.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}