Posted by Steve Wolfe on November 24, 2014 at 7:42 am
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Montezuma Quail are listed as “uncommon” and “secretive” in certain areas of SE Arizona. The lower reaches of the Chiricahua Mountains is one such area — and due partially to the overabundance of rain this monsoon season, there are more Montezuma Quail there than in recent years. I came upon 4 Montezuma — a male, a female, and 2 sub-adults — who were along the road to Herb Martyr Campground. They froze, probably thinking that way I couldn’t see them — but I did, and simply pointed my Canon 500 f/4 lens out the passenger side window; they were at most 15 feet away from me. The Montezuma pictured here is a female. Taken with the Canon 7D and 500 f/4 IS L lens, camera exif ISO 100, f/4 @ 1/640 sec.