Alert, trim, beautiful and loquacious, CALIFORNIA QUAIL are among the most alluring of their family. They are extremely social and a flock of youngsters with their parents can outgossip an old-fashioned quilting bee. The common call of coo — coo — coo is supplanted by a remarkable repertoire, apparently understood by them but with imaginary meanings to the human listener. There is no doubt about the danger signal; it is similar to our own shssh and means the same — look out!
In some parts of their range they are victims of "little knowledge," being destroyed because they eat a little grain or a few grapes, destroyers forgetting the thousands of injurious insects which they eliminate.
NEST: a shallow hollow in ground, under almost any kind of shelter.
EGGS: 12 to 18. Cream marked with spots and blotches of dull yellow, pale blond and chestnut over entire surface.
Humid regions of Pacific coast from southwestern Oregon to Monterey county, California.