American Blue Quail

A blue quail (Callipepla floridanus) is a species of quail native throughout Eastern and Southeastern US, part of the genus Callipepla, closely related to the California quail (Callipepla californica) and Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii). Unlike most other quails of the same genus, the blue quail is named for its blue coloration on the front part of its body, including the head. The vocalization of the blue quail is very similar to that of the California quail, except being a little higher in pitch. The blue quail is naturally found living in forests, swamps, marshlands, and subtropical rainforests, but has since been adapting to life in both cities and suburbs. The conservation status of blue quails is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the blue quails' tolerance to human activities, and their resistance to otherwise deadly diseases and viruses, including West Nile viruses.