The range is here.
They’re not going to be haning out in the city or suburbs, though.
I grew up in Santa Barbara county and there are tons of quail there my parents typically have two coveys in their backyard and one in the front. When I moved to Bakersfield you couldn’t walk through any of the locations around town without scarring several of them.
As far as I can tell they are every where outside of the cities. I even went turkey hunting east of Sacramento and didn’t see a damn turkey but lots of quail. They are by far the most common bird I see.
I don’t mind the Mockingbird, altough there are much more common birds at least in this part of TX.
Just glad it’s not the California Gull (UT). Besides the irony that land-locked Utah’s official bird contains CA’s name, it seems the majority of Utah’s seagulls are at the landfills.
I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and each year a male cardinal claims our yard as part of his turf. Hearing him sing is the official herald of spring’s imminent return for my husband and I; in fact, this year my husband sent me a text when he was home for lunch and heard the familiar song outside. So I know I’m biased, but I think it’s a great state bird for Illinois.
Nevada’s is the Mountain Bluebird, which is a gorgeous little bird. I approve.
My current home state though is Washington. Willow Goldfinches aren’t that special, in my opinion.
Hawaii’s Nene is pretty darned neat!
What a pity that not a single state has chosen a raptor. I’ve always thought the Golden Eagle was awesome, not to mention numerous other owls, falcons, ospreys, kites, and hawks. Why does almost every bird have to be a song bird? A really brave state should include something like the Condor (I’m looking at you CA, you wusses.)
Alaska’s Willow Ptarmigan: gotta love a bird name with a silent P.
I suppose I shouldn’t have expected to see one in Los Angeles, where the only animal life consists of roaches and pigeons. But I did live in a cute little suburb in the SF Bay Area for three years where I frequently saw deer, rabbits and mean-spirited raccoons. I expected to see some damn quails!
Indiana has the Cardinal, which I am fine with.
My school was named after it (We were the Cardinals) and I have seen my fair share of them in both places I have lived.
And agents. Oh, wait…you already said roaches…
The cactus wren is alright, I guess, just going off its association with cactus, but I really think it should be the roadrunner. Or the elf owl. Or the golden eagle. Or the “California” condor (most of them live here now.) So many great ones to choose from.
Or, what’s the one that goes GUKguhgukguhguk–HOOoohHOO*, HOOoohHOO? Is that a quail? That should just win for being everywhere all the time.
I mean no other state has it as a state bird, not that it doesn’t live in other states. Just realized how that sounded…
No, I’m not. Not at all.
He knows why.
There is an abundance of endemic Hawaiian birds that are cooler than the Nene, IMHO, including the Hawaiian Hawk or 'Io.
Yeah, Quails are cute with the funny little crest bob, but the Condor would be a cooler choice. Birds of prey are awesome and can kick songbird asses both literally and figuratively.
I’m okay with Indiana’s cardinal. As birds go, its behavior is civilized. I like the way they come to a feeder as a pair, and one stands watch while the other eats. I see them in our backyard every day.
Only one state has a state question, and you know who you are. The question is, “Red or green?”
Just this year, Indiana declared the Sugar Cream Pie to be the State Pie.
“Eastern Goldfinch”? Yeah, right…anyone who’s ever been to Jersey knows what the state bird really is.
<flip>
In the old days, when I was a wee lad living in SF ( mid-1970’s ), they were quite common in Golden Gate Park. But feral cats and increasing urbanization has drastically reduced that local population - as of the mid-2000’s there were four adults of breeding age. Still to be found occasionally though - searching for numbers I found this guy’s quail photos. Really a rather pretty bird.
Sugar Cream Pie? I am intrigued, as well as half prepared to be grossed out :p.
Nah. The nene is much, much cooler. The 'Io is just another dun-colored raptor. Meh.
Montana is one of about fifteen states with the Western Meadowlark. Personally, though, I think it should be the magpie: Those are all over the place around here, and nobody else has claimed them.
Eh, our state quarter wasn’t as original as it should have been, either.
I’m not kidding. It’s similar to other custard pies, but different enough to be itself.
Northwest surburban Illinois here. We get TONS of cardinals in our yard! I think they like sunflower seeds, if I’m not mistaken, but we never feed them. They just show up. They’re really quite beautiful, and they seem to like frolicking in my trees a lot.