How long do California quail live?
The oldest California Quail on record lived to 9.6 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild California quail live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 9.6 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 9 months
- Eggs per clutch
- 12–16 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 9.4–10.6 in, 4.9–6.2 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 3
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a California Quail can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
California quail usually start breeding at about 9 months old. Each season a pair lays 12–16 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 22–23 days to hatch.
How California quail compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other new world quail on this site.
- Gambel's Quail7.4 years
- Northern Bobwhite6.4 years
More about California quail
Frequently asked
How long do California quail live?
The longest-lived California Quail on record reached 9.6 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild California quail live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a California Quail when it first breeds?
Usually about 9 months old.
What is the oldest California Quail ever recorded?
9.6 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a California Quail raise in a year?
Pairs lay 12–16 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info