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Callipepla squamata.


Callipepla squamata.
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2876] (10399)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-01 20:34
Viewed: 688
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), also commonly called Blue Quail or cottontop, is a species of the New World quail family. It is a bluish gray bird found in the arid regions of the Southwestern United States to Central Mexico. This species is an early offshoot of the genus Callipepla, diverging in the Pliocene (Zink & Blackwell, 1998).

This bird is named for the scaly appearance of its breast and back feathers. Along with its scaly markings, the bird is easily identified by its white crest that resembles a tuft of cotton.

The nest is typically a grass-lined hollow containing 9-16 speckled eggs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly.

Widespread and common throughout its range, the Scaled Quail is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Scaled Quail occupied a wider range during the drier conditions of the last ice age, inhabiting also areas northwest of its present range up to the Colorado River (Rea, 1973). It has formed several subspecies, 3 of which range into the USA:

Callipepla squamata squamata Vigors, 1830 (Altiplano Scaled Quail). The nominate subspecies; it is only found on the Central Plateau (altiplano) of Mexico.
Callipepla squamata pallida Brewster, 1881 (Northern Scaled Quail). The most common subspecies, it occurs from Arizona and New Mexico to Colorado and just into Oklahoma, and western Texas, northern Chihuahua, and Sonora. It is paler than the nominate subspecies.
Callipepla squamata hargravei Rea, 1973 (Upper Sonoran Scaled Quail). A form of arid habitat, it is only found in the area where the states of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma meet, and in northwestern New Mexico. It is the palest subspecies, adapted to dry and sandy habitat.
Callipepla squamata castanogastris Brewster, 1883 (Chestnut-belllied Scaled Quail). Found in southern Texas from Eagle Pass and San Antonio south to adjacent northwestern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas). Similar individuals are sometimes found in the extreme northeast and west of the species' range (Schemnitz, 1994). The chestnut brown belly distinguishes it from all other subspecies; it is also darker than the other two found in the USA.

Saludos Luis52
lawhill, angybone, JoseMiguel, Ken52, eqshannon, SelenE, anel, uleko, XOTAELE, jaycee, Maite, delic, snowfalken, CTP, vanderschelden, CeltickRanger, sflores has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Luis,
It is a nice portrait with plenty colors great BG
very good compose I like the tuna with some flowers, good capture, TFS best regards/Lawhill

Today is my quail day. I followed a quail this morning, critiqued jayce's quail at lunch and now see that you have a quail up. Wonderful shot! The feathers are so wonderfully detailed. Obviously this is not the same sort of quail we have.
The composition, lighting and color - all great as usual! :)

Hola Luis,
Muy hermosa la foto!
Me gusta mucho la ancha composición que armaste, aprovechando toda la extensión del cactus, que por cierto esta adornado con las flores que le dan un acento de color.
Muy bueno el punto de vista frontal para retratar a este singular pájaro.
Felicitaciones y gracias por compartir la foto.
Un gran saludo,
JM

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 98 N: 1260] (4181)
  • [2007-06-01 21:27]

Very interesting photo. Don't know which I like more... the quail or the interesting brach pattern of the blooming catcus. Nice details, good focus, great composition.

You get points from me....based on complexity of design in photo and perfection in composition....

Bob..In the NW Wilderness of the US

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-06-01 22:45]

great composition with the bird on the branch between two other branches. good focus and colors.

amazinjg pic, perfect composition and sharpness. TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 0 N: 2132] (9006)
  • [2007-06-02 9:23]

hello Luis,
That's a wonderful picture you show here. Great composition,like on a stage, beautiful fine colours and nice blurred background. Bravo for this artistical shot.
best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2007-06-02 9:31]

Hello Luis,
Wonderful shot of this Blue Quail perched on this amazing cactus. I like the sharply depicted profile against the soft background.
Excellent composition!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Luis esta escena es perfecta. Equilibrados tonos y hermosos colores. El mimetismo del ave con su entorno es genial.
Un trabajo perfecto.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-02 10:36]

Hello Luis

A wonderful capture,and on top of the cactus is fortuitous.Excellent DOF and POV.The colours are natural and the OOF BG is super.A beautiful composition.It has the feel of Mexico.Nicely done.TFS

Rob BL

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1859 W: 8 N: 4820] (15621)
  • [2007-06-02 10:59]

Hi Luis,

What an adorable quail! I wonder if there are any like that in Tucson - I've never spotted one. I would love to see a close-up shot. The colors are lovely and the cactus perch is beautiful.

Jane

Hola Luis,
Nicely composed picture with landscape format. Well focused and nice DoF, neat BG, aesthetic image.
Superb shot.

BL

Hi Luis ,
what a nice shot. it has vivid colours and great sharpness.BG is very nice too.
well captured.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1003 W: 64 N: 1240] (5074)
  • [2007-06-03 15:49]

¡Qué foto más linda, Luis!
La disposición en horizontal con esa curiosa y bonita rama de cactus queda magnífica. El ave tiene un plumaje precioso. Los detalles son excelentes.
Una imagen realmente preciosa.
Saludos
Maite

Quelle composition , magnifique.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-06-04 2:29]

Hello Luis,
Excellent semi-panoramic composition. I like the way you framed the quail between the cactus branches. Fine exposure in harsh light. Regards,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2392 W: 61 N: 3922] (12598)
  • [2007-06-04 3:45]

Hi Luis,
Interesting bird. Composition is very elegant. Nice details and colors. TFS.
Selen

Hi Luis,
Absolutely gorgeous! I love this cropped panoramic shot. The exposure is very nice and the subject is fantastic. :)

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2079 W: 6 N: 2088] (13475)
  • [2007-06-07 8:08]

Hola Luis,
no se que decirte, si me gusta mas el ave o donde está posado,
y para colmo el fondo es de película,
una gran captura por partida doble,
saludos amigo.

Hello Luis,

What a beautiful picture! I guess the cactus belongs to the subfamily "Opuntioidae", more precisely to cylindropuntia if I remember correctly! I love the way you "replaced" a branch with this bird!


Composition:

A very good composition! I like the way you run the horizontal branch along the lower third of the picture and used it as a support for the Quail. I also like you placed the bird a bit off-center to make the picture more interesting! The background is perfect for your shot as it makes the foreground stand out! The only thing I would have changed if possible was the direction the bird is looking in. I would have loved to see the bird looking to the left side of the picture!

Colors:

The natural colors depict a great scene form the Quails life! I found the saturation to be well adjusted!

Contrast:

Very good contrast in the foreground! It draws attention to the subject!

Exposure:

Exposure was well controlled! The details were preserved in both highlights and shadows!

Focus:

It is obvious you precisely focused on the subject! The details are sharp and the well controlled DOF rendered a great OOF background! Well done!

A wonderful picture and a very creative way to present this bird! The notes are also well written! Thank you for sharing!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 20 N: 522] (1815)
  • [2007-06-09 12:02]

Hi Luis,
This is a very nice composition with the cactus the bird is sitting on. Dangerous place to be. Good pov and well seen, I like your light and blurred bg, good colours.
Paula

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 774 W: 6 N: 1107] (3183)
  • [2007-06-14 1:14]

Hola Luis,
Cute capture of this Quail my friend.
I like your blurred bg,bird's pose,colors,note,framing,focus,dof and composition.Gracias:)
Saludos,
Chris

Una preciosidad de imagen. Enhorabuena y saludos,

www.photo-b.net/Briones

bonjour Luis

même si je trouve les sujet un peu centré,
j'aimes beaucoup ta photo de cette espèce de caille,
superbe plumage et détails des plumes

merci de faire partager cette belle photo

Asbed

Hola Luis, todas tus fotos son hermosas pero esta foto me tiene fascinada, no dejo de verla y mostrar admiracion por ella, gracias por compartir, saludos de tu paisana que vive en el sureste de mexico:-)

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