How long do Gambel's quail live?
The oldest Gambel's Quail on record lived to 7.4 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild Gambel's quail live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 7.4 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 10–12 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 9.8 in, 5.6–6.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 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 Gambel's 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.
Gambel's quail usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 10–12 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 21–24 days to hatch.
How Gambel's quail compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other new world quail on this site.
- California Quail9.6 years
- Northern Bobwhite6.4 years
More about Gambel's quail
Frequently asked
How long do Gambel's quail live?
The longest-lived Gambel's Quail on record reached 7.4 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild Gambel's quail live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Gambel's Quail when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Gambel's Quail ever recorded?
7.4 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Gambel's Quail raise in a year?
Pairs lay 10–12 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