Scaled Quail
Can you venture a guess at why it's called a scaled quail? This beautiful fellow and his mate walked right by my camping site, presenting this excellent photo op! Photographed at Rockhound State Park, NM, USA.
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Grouse, quail, and turkeys are all considered “ground birds.” Although entirely capable of flight, these birds often use the ability sparingly. They spend much of their time traipsing across the ground in search of food, but won’t hesitate to use flight as a means of escaping danger or, sometimes, to attract mates and reach secure roosting sites.
Gambel’s Quail
A male gambel's quail stands guard while most of his covey forages on the ground below. Tucson, AZ.
Fluffy Roadrunner
Roadrunners will fluff up their feathers for preening and to adjust their body temperature. On this chilly morning, this roadrunner kept doing so in patches of sun. Tucson, AZ.
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
A sharp-tailed grouse briefly poses before bursting toward cover. Medicine Lake, MT.
Ringnecked Pheasant
A beautiful ring-necked pheasant prances across the farm field. Medicine Lake, MT.
Grouse in Flight
Silhouetted by the Northeastern Montana countrysite, this sharp-tailed grouse takes off from cover. Medicine Lake, MT.
Ruffed Grouse
A ruffed grouse takes a break drumming on his log. During courtship, in early spring, male ruffed grouse will choose a log often next to a forest clearing. They will repeatedly drum on the log with their powerful feet. This process goes on for hours, days, sometimes weeks until a mate is attracted. Bald Eagle State Forest, PA.
Wild Turkey
Searching for a nice place to forage, this wild turkey traipses right down the path. Madera Canyon, AZ.
Greater Roadrunner
A beautiful roadrunner pauses along the brush-line in which it was foraging. Marana, AZ.