Gambel's Quail in Colorado
When Gambel's quail are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect Gambel's quail in Colorado
Gambel's Quails live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mesquite and legume seeds.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, Gambel's quail typically nest from April–July. Nest site: scrape on the ground under shrubs. Females lay 10–12 eggs, incubate for 21–24 days, and young leave the nest after a few hours (chicks are precocial).
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Gambel's Quail don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Colorado plants that attract Gambel's quail
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover Gambel's quail use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding Gambel's quail through the Colorado year
Coveys of 20+ visit ground feeders at dawn; a dripping water source brings them in.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for Gambel's quail · Best feeder for Gambel's quail
Frequently asked
Are Gambel's quail in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Gambel's Quail are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do Gambel's quail nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 10–12 eggs, incubated for 21–24 days.
What native plants attract Gambel's quail in Colorado?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for Gambel's quail.
Gambel's Quail in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Gambel's Quail — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gambel's Quail life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gambel's Quail — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.