5 Largest Domestic Quail Breeds

While researching quail breeds in America, I found the 5 largest domestic quail breeds with noticeable popularity. For thousands of years, humans have been raising and keeping such quails for egg and meat production or for other purposes.

Among all the quails, the largest domestic Quail breed list is given below:

1. Jumbo Coturnix Quail (Coturnix Japonica)
2. Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)
3. Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)
4. California Quail (Callipepla californica)
5. Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii).

Mountain Quail or Jumbo Coturnix Quail is considered the largest of all because of its size and maturity.

However, for more details about such quail breeds, read further. You’ll understand almost everything about large fowls as domesticated birds.

All About 5 Largest Domestic Quail Breeds

Among a lot of quail breeds, I found 5 domestic ones in large sizes. However, their size and other facts depend on regional preference. So, I am including the breeds of quail based on a general point of view.

1. Jumbo Coturnix Quail (Coturnix Japonica) Breed

Similar to Coturnix Quail, the fowl have brownish plumage and variation based on different Coturnix varieties. Check out some facts about them to know whether they meet your needs or not to remain your domestic bird.

Good Facts About Jumbo Coturnix Quail

• Jumbo Coturnix Quail are calm-natured large fowl that can be a good pet for the experts as well as for newbie pet owners.
• Such fowls become mature within 8 weeks.
• The quail is 12 to 14 ounces ( Mostly the wild ones and considered the big ones).
• Jumbo Coturnix can lay 8 to 16 eggs. Yearly, the production can be around 260 to 300 eggs with a weight of around 12 or 13 grams.
• They are quite effortless to raise for meat and egg production.
• Both male and female sizes are identical.
• Such birds are important for aging and disease studies that we found from Research about Japanese Jumbo Coturnix.

Bad Facts About Jumbo Coturnix Quail

• The eggs of Coturnix Quail (Jumbo) eggs are quite small in size.
• Jumbo Quail becomes too noisy during their breeding time.
• They show their cannibalistic behavior when they are stressed or living in overcrowded places.
• Can’t handle the extreme temperature.
• Unfortunately, they have a short lifespan.

Surprising Fact: Jumbo White Coturnix Quail has a Pharoah feather pattern that is more notable due to their size. Others have identical but not like Jumbo Quail.

However, take a look at the video to see them properly.

2. Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) Breed

Another largest among quail species, or dwelling mountain Quail, comes with white, brown, gray, and chestnut patterns. You’ll find such non-migratory birds near forests or mountains. See the video.

So, keeping them as a domestic one is surely a challenge. You won’t find it that much, and at least they are not acceptable for meat and eggs. But we also find them taken as a game bird.

However, let’s see more facts about them.

Good Facts About Mountain Quail

• Mountain Quails are available in North America, so any wildlife organization or pet store may have them as a pet.
• They come with a size of 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11″).
• They are ornamental fowl taken for exhibition.
• Such fowls have interesting foraging tricks.
• According to Audubon, they can offer 6 to 15 creamy white eggs.
• Such birds eat seeds and become predators of prey to keep the ecosystem balance in control.

Bad Facts About Mountain Quail

• As the fowl get aged, their wings and appearance change, and color disappears.
• They are quite shy in nature, so it’s tough to understand them as domestic birds.
• The birds are quite secretive, so it becomes tough to understand.
• They are mountain birds, so keeping them in captivity will be tough.
• Such large quails are not a perfect choice as a domestic bird due to their wild nature.

Surprising Fact: Mountain Quail birds are quite unique in appearance and distinctive calls.

3. Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) Breed

Also known as Virginia quail, with a 5.8 million population, such fowls have become popular dwelling species. They can be kept for various purposes, including

• Ecological
• Cultural
• Economic.

And mostly, the hunters, researchers, stakeholders, and conservationists look for Northen Bobwhite Quail. But they won’t be as good as a domestic one.

Good Facts About Northern Bobwhite Quail

• Northern Bobwhite is one of the most familiar quails in eastern North America.
• This bird breed is moderate-sized, around 24-28 cm (9.4-11″).
• Kept as game birds in America, making them preferable targets for hunters.
• Their meat is quite delicious, mild, tender, and full of flavor, perfect for gourmet cuisine.
• Have the ability to lay a lot of eggs every year.
• They are used to teach hunting ethics, so such quails have stand-out value.
• The Bobwhite Quail is named after their whistling call, “bob-White” or “bob-bob-White.”
• They are sexually dimorphic and monogamous.

Bad Facts About Northern Bobwhite Quail

• Can be kept for domestic purposes but will be a little challenging as they are naturally wild birds.
• Lay small legs compared to chickens.
• Sometimes, they become quite noisy.
• Not suited for small spaces.
• It cannot be easy to breed as they are friendly with wildlife and have nesting habits.
• Have a short lifespan, so keeping them as a pet or for poultry purposes is not a wise idea.

Surprising Fact: In 2023, the masked bobwhite quail subspecies gonna be a feature on the Forever stamp as part of Endangered Species fixed by the United States Postal Service.

However, see the video of this beautiful fowl.

4. California Quail (Callipepla californica) Breed

California quail or Valley quail is another small but large among other quail species. Comes with a distinctive look made such fowls a wildlife praisers favorite. But it’s challenging when the purpose is to keep them as domestic birds.

People find such birds have teardrop-shaped plumes on the head, vibrantly patterned feathers, and excellent facial markings. However, check out the quick table for more understanding!

Good Facts About California Quail

• California Quail is the symbol of the California State.
• The most-seen bird on the West Coast of the US is considered the large one with a size of 25 cm (9.8″).
• Can be kept for ornamental purposes because of their beauty.
• Bird enthusiasts, ornithologists, or photographers find them perfect for research or study.
• Play a role in contributing to the ecosystem by eating seeds.
• They have a melodious vocalization to charm.
• At around 28 weeks, female quails can engage in egg-dumping jobs where they lay eggs in others.
• California Quails are also taken for hunting game birds.

Bad Facts About California Quail

• You may not get legal permission to keep the wild bird.
• Keeping as a domestic fowl gonna become so challenging due to their wild nature.
• Not suited for small spaces that a domestic bird usually gets. Especially, they have captivity.
• This quail is not good enough for egg and meat production.
• You may hate the way they sometimes make noise.

Surprising Fact: These fowls have unique curved crest or plume made of six overlapping feathers that droops forward.

Here is a video to show you such beauty!

5. Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) Breed

Gambel’s Quail is not commonly known for commercial purposes or as domestic fowl, but keeping it in captivity is possible for other purposes.

However, it’s a little challenging as they are mostly seen in desert regions of California, Arizona, Colorado, etc.

Good Facts About Gambel’s Quail

They are small but considerably bigger than any other species, and the average size is around 11″ or 28 cm.

• Have a beautiful appearance with uniqueness (Top knots with scaly plumage), making them ornamental birds.
• This quail can be kept for photography or for any sort of research.
• Keeping and raising are tough as they grow in wild nature, so they don’t match with domestic behavior.
• They need a large space, or they’ll get stressed and face health difficulties over time.

Bad Facts About Gambel’s Quail

• Pet owners may not like the noisy tone.
• Some states sometimes expect legal permission to keep the bird in captivity.

Surprising Fact: They have a common recognizable sound with a note ka-KAA-ka-ka call in the desert. See the video to hear their vocalization.

Related Readings:

• Raising 5 Best Quail Breeds For Meat
• 5 Best Quail Breeds For Eggs

FAQs

The Curious mind will always expect to know more facts about the largest domestic quail breeds. So here are frequently asked questions that you may like.

Bottom Line

So, we talked about the largest domestic quail breeds among the quail family. The quail breeds I talked about are not directly related to domestic purposes but can be kept in captivity. And here, the special one is Jumbo Coturnix Quail, which can be kept as a pet and for domestic purposes. Like for getting meat and egg production.

Besides, other quail breeds I talked about are not good enough for both egg and meat production. But you can keep them for different purposes like ornamental, photography, or as a game bird. However, keep hunting ethics in mind!

Sources & References:

• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Quail/overview
• https://tucsonaudubon.org/bird_profile/gambels-quail/