Quail
Colinus virginianus
Quail is found around West Elizabeth, one of 2 habitats the compendium records for it.
Everything else that breathes, swims or flies. Habitat and loot are what the compendium asks you to fill in; the three-star carcass is what the trapper asks for.
- Scientific name
- Colinus virginianus
- Habitats
- West Elizabeth, New Austin
- Carcass yields
- Quail Feather, Flight Feather, Game Meat, Quail Carcass
- Subspecies
- California quail
Player notes
Quail is a small bird in Red Dead Redemption 2, identified as the California quail and listed under the scientific name Colinus virginianus. It spends most of its time on the ground and makes quiet cooing sounds before it notices Arthur. When startled, it takes flight for a short distance, much like a Turkey, before returning to the ground.
It occurs in West Elizabeth, especially around Strawberry in Big Valley. Its range extends northwest toward Mount Shann, southeast toward the Upper Montana River, and northeast toward Carmody Dell in The Heartlands. Lone Mule Stead, near Bard's Crossing, is another place where quail gather. In New Austin, it appears only rarely near Hamlin's Passing.
A Quail Carcass can be collected along with Quail Feathers, Flight Feathers and Game Meat. Among small animals, its carcass and other materials are surpassed in value only by the parakeet. A perfect carcass yields two portions of meat when broken down, matching a cleanly killed medium animal, and a clean kill produces a perfect-quality carcass.
Trivia
- โThe portrait, model, call, compendium icon and behavior of the bird in Red Dead Redemption 2 all actually depict the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), a different gamebird species found in the eastern USA, instead of the California quail (Callipepla californica). This can be assumed to be a simple naming error by the developers, or the actual California quail (different type) was actually planned before being scrapped and the name reused for the bobwhite quail.
- โThough not included in the game, the player can find paintings of Gambel's quail in saloons throughout the map.
Wildlife
6
Last verified September 14, 2026