Gambel's Quail in Nevada
When Gambel's quail are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect Gambel's quail in Nevada
Gambel's Quails live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward mesquite and legume seeds.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, 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).
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Gambel's Quail don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush, prickly pear, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Nevada plants that attract Gambel's quail
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover Gambel's quail use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
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.
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding Gambel's quail through the Nevada year
Coveys of 20+ visit ground feeders at dawn; a dripping water source brings them in.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for Gambel's quail · Best feeder for Gambel's quail
Frequently asked
Are Gambel's quail in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Gambel's Quail are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do Gambel's quail nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada 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 Nevada?
Wild bergamot, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Prickly pear, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for Gambel's quail.
Gambel's Quail in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
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 — Nevada
- 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.