I saw an unusual and beautiful California (?) Quail at the Montlake Fill on
Sunday. It was at the side of the gravel road into the dime parkling lot, in
the company of 5 California quail. It was the second largest bird in the
group. It had a light grey back and mantle, golden wing coverts, a grey
tail that was light at the base; head had a grey "topknot", creamy ground
color with fine blackish streaking that was heaviest on the crown and very
well defined on the nape, and a very pale grey throat; the ground color of
the breast and underparts varied from cream to pale gold with grey vertical
steaking on the breast and grey barring on the flanks.
Is this a dilute plumage CAQU or is it some escaped exotic? Has anyone else
who birds the Fill seen this bird? Has everyone seen it except me?

Ruth Taylor
Seattle