Species Guide
A guide to different quails

There are several different species of quail. There are also a number of commercial strains for some species. Following is a summary of different species of quail. Click on the links on the left for more detailed information about each species.

Common name Scientific name Other names and varieties
Californian Quail Callipepla californicus Valley quail
Gambel’s Quail Callipepla gambelii
Blue Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata Scaled quail
Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus Plumed quail, Painted quail
Elegant Quail Callipepla douglasii
Mearns Quail Cyrtonyx Montezumae Montezuma quail
Bobwhite Colinus virginianus American quail, Northern Bobwhite and Partridge quail (varieties; Giant Butler, Jumbo, Red Tennessee, White)
Chinese Painted Quail Coturnix coturnix chinensis Asian Blue, King and Blue breasted
Common Quail or Laying Quail Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh, Italian, Japanese, etc.