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Gambel’s Quail normally are exceedingly cautious birds. They rarely show themselves from their customary habitat of fairly dense brush and they’re quick to hide when approached. They have to be cautious if they want to survive: these little chicken-like birds are on many predators’ menus.
But that changes — at least for male quail — every spring. That’s mating and breeding season for the quail and males throw caution to the winds in their efforts to attract mates and then, to protect their broods.
In April, especially in the early mornings and evenings, the males expose themselves on elevated perches and call, looking for love.
I recently photographed this male as he perched on a low mesquite and called. Normally, a male Gambel’s Quail would hide at the sight of my approaching vehicle. This individual was giving courtship his all, however, and so, he ignored me even as I parked just four or five meters from him and photographed him.
Courtship season will soon be over for the quail but the era of living dangerously will not immediately end for the males. Because, once he’s found a mate and she’s hatched her eggs, the male will again expose himself on elevated perches to serve as a sentinel for possible danger as his mate and offspring forage on the ground beneath him. Life is definitely not easy for a male Gambel’s Quail.
Images made with a Canon R5, Canon EF 400mm f4 DO II lens+ Canon EF 1.4x telextender, M setting (auto ISO), ISO 640 (first image), ISO 800 (second image), f5.6 @ 1/3200.
Sonoran Images 