California Quail

SCI Name:  Callipepla californica
Protonym:  Tetrao californicus Nat.Misc. 9 pl.345
Taxonomy:  Galliformes / Odontophoridae / Callipepla
Taxonomy Code:  calqua
Type Locality:  California = Monterey.
Author:  Shaw
Publish Year:  1798
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

CALLIPEPLA
(Odontophoridae; Ϯ Scaled Quail C. squamata) Gr. καλλιπεπλος kallipeplos  beautifully clad  < καλλος kallos  beauty  < καλος kalos  beautiful; πεπλος peplos  robe; "A. Gallinae terrestres.  Genus Callipepla, Wagl.  Schuppenhuhn.  (Genus novum.)  ...  In der Vorausfetzung, daß andere Gattungen dieser Sippe theilweise wenigstens, ein schuppenartiges Gefieder haben möchten, habe ich diese mit dem Namen "Schuppenhuhn" belegt.   Species: Callipepla strenua. Wagl." (Wagler 1832); "Callipepla Wagler, Isis von Oken, 1832, col. 277. Type, by monotypy, Callipepla strenua Wagler = Ortyx squamatus Vigors." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 44).
Synon. Lophortyx.

californiana / californianus / californica
California  < myth. Queen Calafia, who ruled an island paradise rich in gold and peopled by Amazons, created (c. 1500) by Spanish novelist Rodriguez de Montalvo.
● Alta California, Mexico (Aphelocoma, Geococcyx).
● California, USA (syn. Buteo regalis).
● Alta California, New Spain (Callipepla, Gymnogyps).

SUBSPECIES

California Quail (californica)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica californica
californiana / californianus / californica
California  < myth. Queen Calafia, who ruled an island paradise rich in gold and peopled by Amazons, created (c. 1500) by Spanish novelist Rodriguez de Montalvo.
● Alta California, Mexico (Aphelocoma, Geococcyx).
● California, USA (syn. Buteo regalis).
● Alta California, New Spain (Callipepla, Gymnogyps).

California Quail (orecta)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica orecta
orecta
Gr. ορεκτος orektos  longed for, desired  < ορεγω oregō  to stretch out.

California Quail (brunnescens)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica brunnescens
brunnescens
Mod. L. brunnescens, brunnescentis  somewhat brown, brownish  < brunneus  brown  < Med. L. brunius  brown.

California Quail (catalinensis)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica catalinensis
catalinae / catalinensis
Santa Catalina I., Los Coronados Is., California, USA.

California Quail (canfieldae)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica canfieldae
canfieldae
May Canfield (1879-1938) US collector (subsp. Callipepla californica).

California Quail (plumbea)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica plumbea
plumbea
L. plumbeus  leaden, plumbeous, lead-coloured  < plumbum  lead.
● ex “Garza Aplomada” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 347 (syn. Ardea cocoi).
● ex “Spotted-tailed Hobby” of Latham 1781 (Ictinia).
● ex “Todus supra ex plumbeo canus ...” of Pallas 1769, and “Plumbeous Tody” of Latham 1782 (Polioptila).
● ex “Plumbeous Warbler” of Latham 1787 (unident.).

California Quail (decolorata)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica decolorata
decolorata / decoloratus
L. decoloratus  discoloured, faded  < decolorare  to discolour  < decolor, decoloris  faded, pale  < de  removal; color, coloris  colour.

California Quail (achrustera)
SCI Name: Callipepla californica achrustera
achrustera / achrusterus
Gr. αχρουστερος akhrousteros  less highly coloured  < comp. αχροος akhroos  colourless, pallid  < negative prefix α- a- ; χρωζω khrōzō  to stain.