Callipepla gambelii

Description:

A male Gambel's Quail worries over his brood, and takes flight at the last moment. The first vocalizations are common to both sexes while they're raising their kids. These sounds seem to be used to tie the family together, and to indicate to the children that they should be alert. The flight sound of this guy is well known to anyone in the Southwest US. It is a combination of wing noise and vocalization - quite startling if you don't expect it!