From the Ripley Desert Woodland trail brochure, a drawing of a Desert quail

From the Ripley Desert Woodland trail brochure, a Desert quail.

  While at the Desert Woodland photo shoot I came across only a few quail which when startled promptly disappeared into the brush. Since the California frequent bushy area's you will come across them sooner or later even on a short hike in mountain chaparral or sagebrush covered areas. This bird has a range over much of the State. This California Quail is also our state bird! - Author

The California Quail, Callipepla californica, also known as the California Valley Quail or Valley Quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. California_QuailIt is the state bird of California. They are year-round residents. Their closest relative is Gambel's Quail which has a more southerly distribution and, a longer crest, brighter head and a scalier appearance. These birds forage on the ground, often scratching at the soil. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and leaves, but they also eat some berries and insects. - Text and photo from Wikipedia