This brightly colored male California quail steps out into the sunshine. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo
The Anza Valley teems with California quail, commonly seen pecking alongside the rural roads and flushing dramatically at the first sign of danger. The tiny hens chirp softly to one another, keeping track of the members of the flock as they feed.These tiny, rotund birds, whose scientific name is Lophortyx californica, are also known as the valley quail. They became the official state bird in 1931. As a common and prized game bird, it is known for its hardiness and adaptability. Plump and gray-colored, the California quail has a pretty curved black plume on top of its head and black bib with a white stripe under its beak.Flocks, or coveys, can number from just a few to 60 or more in the fall and winter months. In the spring, the birds pair off to make nests and raise their young. Th
