Any of several small game birds with bluish-grey plumage; especially (US) the scaled quail, Callipepla squamata, of the southern United States and Mexico.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Hemsley Emory (1811–1887).
Definition of blue quail in US English:
blue quail
noun
Any of several small game birds with bluish-grey plumage; especially (US) the scaled quail, Callipepla squamata, of the southern United States and Mexico.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Hemsley Emory (1811–1887).