Unlimited edition. 18 x 24 inch, museum-quality poster on matte paper.

The male California quail is the only bird that routinely takes my breath away *and* tickles my funny bone. How can one bird can be both regal and ridiculous? Dressed splendidly, the male stands sentry over his covey, head plumes erect and chest thrust forward, the very picture of dignity and dependability. Suddenly, he perceives a threat, perhaps a Cooper’s hawk above or a snake or bobcat nearby. He sounds the “pit pit” alarm and the covey explodes, some birds flying into nearby shrubs and others, including the male, trundling overground like crazed Tweedledees. It’s impossible not to chuckle when you see one of these rotund birds hustling on its way – they’re comically cute and excitable – but one needn’t look long or learn much about the quail to recognize it as a most admirable animal.

The scientific binomial, Callipepla californica, translates as “California’s beautiful woven robe,” and, boy, is that name appropriate. The combination of colors is remarkable – steel blue, whites, and a range of warm browns including coffee, redwood, and a rich maroon) – but it’s the way the quail wears them that makes him, in a word, fancy. It’s not just looks, though, that make the bird beloved. One argument for the quail’s selection as California’s state bird was the species’ approach to mating and parenting. Males and females generally mate for life, and they both play large roles in rearing and protecting their young. Interestingly, while most quail parents stick to their nuclear family group until the chicks are independent, about 12% join up with other family groups to create communal chickcare flocks. Sometimes, it takes a covey.

Note: These archival poster prints feature rich, appealing colors. I encourage customers to take care in handling them until they are framed/protected for display; the darker colors on the matte paper can be scratched. They ship rolled, so customers need to flatten them before framing (or have their framer do so).

Charitable Sales Model: Whenever one of these poster prints is purchased, a charitable contribution equal to 10% of the print’s cost (or $3.60) is made to a nonprofit working to tackle environmental or social challenges. Read more about my charitable sales model here.