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Quail on a Tree


Quail on a Tree
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS, 1.5 Teleconverter
Exposure: f/4, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Where they Usually Are Not, CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-25 9:50
Viewed: 378
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A Quail doesn't belong on the top of a tree - after a few days absence I have found I do belong on TN.

Gambel's Quail

Gambel’s quail are pear-shaped birds with short legs and roundish wings. Both sexes are gray above and buff below, with white-streaked russet sides. Males have a black throat and face and a head plume (called a "topknot"), a red cap and white headband. Females have a less prominent plume and lack black coloration and red head cap. The birds have a 14-inch wing span and average weight of six ounces.

The species’ range is focused in the Sonoran desert of Arizona and Mexico, but it extends into southern New Mexico, up and down the Rio Grande, up the Colorado River drainage into Utah’s canyon country, and west to California and southern Nevada.

Gambel’s quail eat seeds of forbs, grasses, shrubs, trees and cacti as well as herbaceous material, fruits and berries. They are ground feeders, generally seeking food in the morning and afternoon.

Gambel’s quail inhabit brushy and thorny vegetation of southwestern deserts. They are often closely associated with honey mesquite, although these plants are not essential to the birds’ survival. The birds range up to a mile, often along river valleys and drainages. They use shrubs and trees as a nighttime roost, resting a few inches to a few feet off the ground, a habit not typically found in other desert quail. They appear commonly in the suburbs.

These gregarious birds often join together in groups known as coveys, which may total 20 or more individuals in fall and winter. They produce a location or assembly call, "ka-KAA-ka-ka," to locate a mate or other covey members, issuing the call most often in midmorning or late afternoon. They emit a distinct "chip-chip-chip" when alarmed.

Natural predators include bobcats, Cooper’s and Harris’ hawks, cotton rats, king snakes and coachwhips, although the impact these species have on Gambel’s quail populations is not fully understood. Like other quail, Gambel’s quail commonly sprint into dense undergrowth rather than taking flight.

Humans are the Gambel’s quail’s most important predator. Hunting seasons last up to 125 days with individual hunter limits of up to 15 birds per day. The average estimated kill between 1993 and 1995 exceeded 1.2 million birds per year. Trapping in the 1800’s appears to have decimated populations, but the practice is now outlawed in the United States.

DesertUSA
CeltickRanger, GLEM, jusninasirun, haraprasan, maurydv, siggi, Argus, uleko, Silke, gracious, eqshannon has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To nglen: Thinkingjaycee 1 07-25 12:34
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Critiques [Translate]

Yes and so noted..I have captured certain sub species of quail in trees. It is more than likely a last ditch effort to hide from you! Otherwise they spend most of their time on the ground....your azure blue skies are quite interesting. I still think there is something different in Arizona, New Mexican and Mexican skies...something which is very much different than upper longitudes...A good presentation...the picture with two titles! And two completely different presentations (&*only some may know:-))
Bob

Hello Jane,
I liked the expresstion on it's face!
nicely captured of this beautiful Quail on top of the tree with good sharpness, natural colour and details
many thanks for the sharing
p/s so sad we lost so many friends from this site!
have a wonderful weekend!
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2008-07-25 11:11]

Very fine Pov and superb details -- looks like this rascal is keeping a watchful eye on things.

An excellent posting
TFs
silke

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-07-25 11:31]

Hello Jane,
Of your two presentations I certainly prefer this one!! It is such a beautiful bird and you've captured it nicely here, half-hidden by branches. I like the POV and it looks good against the blue sky.
Good to see you back!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

Hi Jane, lovely portrait of splendid bird, great capture with wonderful colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2008-07-25 11:48]

Yes, and so do I Jane!
I like the composition of this Gambel Quail shot, nicely showing, though partly hidden in the top of this tree. It seems that some species do end up in tree tops as an exception, perhaps to keep their territories, as this male seems to be doing.
Nice and sharp and in great lighting.
Have a good weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 286 W: 3 N: 779] (2796)
  • [2008-07-25 11:53]

Hello Jane,
very beautiful bird well captured!
good exposure and focus with perfect sharpness with details.well done and well seen.
Regards
Siggi

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-07-25 12:16]
  • [+]

Hi Jane you must have been thinking just the same as myself . What a great hair do this Quail has. As you say a unusual picture to see it up in the tree. good detail and colours. with interesting notes. well done TFS.
Nick..

Have a good weekend.

Hi Jane,
Excelent capture of Quail in extraordinary position. Though covered mainly by leaves the most important part of the bird is suitably visible with good good composition, sharp details, all colours are natural.
TFS
Pekka

Ciao Jane,
bellissima ed inusuale cattura sull'albero di questo uccello, eccellenti POV e composizione per la bella posa, molto belli e naturali i colori.
Grazie e complimenti.
Maurizio

Hi Jane,
A nice capture of this Quail bird. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 0 N: 371] (1986)
  • [2008-07-26 0:49]

Hi Jane
very interestin a bird
very nice image

Hello Jane. Your quail looks very different than our tiny specimen :-) The shot is excellent on top of this tree against the beautiful blue sky. Nice sharp detail on the head and you have metered your equipment very well here. I like the framing with the leaves in the foreground looking more in natural habitat. Well done and best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693] (5739)
  • [2008-07-27 0:38]

hi jane,
quel étrange oiseau, sa coupe de cheveux est particulièrement moderne :)
Belle prise de vue, le pov est excellent, les branches se dégagent juste pour laisser apparaître sa tête.

gaetan

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 5 N: 2259] (8370)
  • [2008-07-27 3:50]

Hello Jane,
Very intersting bird.Colors,lighting,sharpness and framing are excellent.TFS

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
  • [2008-07-27 17:08]

Hello Jane, great capture of this Quail! Well composed with a very good technique, thanks!

Mario

hello Jane

as i wrote in my previous critique, i am comeback
and i am like you, i also belong on TN,

you did a superb shot of this wonderful bird,
i love your POV that in French we say « en contre-plongé »,
beautiful luminosity, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

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