today's new cutie is.... the gambel's quail!!! im so happy i found this bird. it measures on average 30 cm and has a wingspan of 35 to 40 cm. it is easily recognizable by the crest on the top of its head and the scaly patterns on its underside. otherwise, it has grey plumage over most of its body, and the males have copper feathers on the top of their heads, a black face, and a white line above their eyes. it is a relatively stocky bird with rounded wings and long, bare legs. the sonoran desert is home to this distinctive bird. gambel's quail is often abundant near desert streams and waterholes, with coveys walking to the water in the morning and evening, giving a variety of clucking and crowing notes. as cities have grown in the desert southwest, these birds have adapted to life in the surrounding suburbs, coming into back yards to eat grain scattered for them. at night, coveys of gambel's quail roost in bushes or low trees. its diet consists mainly of grass and seeds. chicks are more insectivorous than adults, but gradually consume more and more vegetation as they grow. (i do shorter descriptions now, is it better? i think it is. tell me what you think!)