87: Gambel’s Quail: The Desert Bird With the Incredible Topknot 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore the fascinating world of the Gambel’s Quail—one of the most recognizable and charismatic birds of the American Southwest.RJ and Amanda recently spotted these incredible desert birds during a trip to Sedona, and with John’s Arizona roots, the Gambel’s Quail quickly became the perfect bird for this episode. Known for their distinctive topknot feathers, beautiful desert plumage, and fast-running behavior, Gambel’s Quail are a favorite among birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers alike.In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to discuss Gambel’s Quail behavior, desert habitat, bird identification, quail ecology, and what makes these birds so well adapted to life in the Southwest.We also answer a listener mailbag question about owl pellets discovered at a flower farm in Illinois, leading to a fascinating conversation about owl behavior, bird diets, and what scientists can learn from owl pellets.If you love birding, birdwatching, desert birds, owls, bird behavior, ornithology, wildlife science, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky