Nineteenth and early 20th century naturalists found them “fantastic,” “curious,” “bizarre.” The male's face is marked by swirls of black and white – and with their wild patterning, they were called “harlequin quail,” “fool quail,” “crazy quail.” They were recognized as distinctive to arid North America – found from Mexico to the Trans-Pecos, southern Arizona to the Edwards Plateau.

Montezuma quail are one of the region's most charismatic birds. They're also one of its most mysterious. Despite their striking plumage, they can vanish into grassy slopes and mountainsides. Little is known of their ecology and behavior.

Scientists at Alpine's Borderlands Research...