Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) is named in recognition of William Gambel (1821-1849), an American naturalist who died on an ill-fated winter crossing of the Sierra Nevada. Gambel's quail have are pear-shaped birds with a feather plume on their head. The name "quail," with roots in Middle Dutch through Old French, is related to "quack," an allusion to the vocalisation of the European quail. The scientific name "callipepla" comes from the Greek kalli (beautiful) and peplos (robe). Males have a black throat and face and a head plume (called a "topknot"), a red cap and white headband. Females have a less prominent plume and lack black coloration and red head cap. Also known as desert quail, Gambel's quail are located in dry regions of the southwestern United States.
