[Birdtalk] Sleeping Quail

[M. H. Wallace]

Today in our backyard in the East Millcreek area of Salt Lake County, at 
about 5:00 p.m., we witnessed a most unusual behavior from the 
California Quail in our yard.  There were 3 males and 1 female 
apparently sleeping in broad day-light.  They did not react when we went 
outside, when normally they would have been quite nervous, and either 
scurried or flown away.  We quietly approached up to about 20 feet away 
from them.  Their eyes appeared to be open, but, again, they did not 
re-act to our presence as they normally would.  They appeared to be in a 
stupor, or catatonic state, or otherwise sleeping.  I have lived around 
Quail my whole life and never witnessed this before.

Does anyone have any insight into this behavior?  Have you ever seen 
Quail sleep in broad day-light?

I have posted three photos of the three males.  
(http://www.xmission.com/~pooder/birds/quail_stupor.html)  Notice how #1 
has his rump up in the air.  As I took these photos, and approached a 
bit closer #2 eventually did awake and stand-up, but did not immediately 
move away.

By 5:45 p.m. they have all moved away, so they are all alive and now 
awake.  Interesting...

Matthew Wallace.
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