One of my favorite birds is a California quail. Identification is easy as it looks very distinct.
SHAPE: The quail has a "bottom heavy" appearance with a small head and large, bulbous belly. The legs are short. The head of males has a prominent feather sticking out the front of its forehead.
BEHAVIOR: They tend to forage in groups on the ground with one member standing in an elevated position, seeming to be on the "look out." They move as a group and when slightly startled, rather than flying, they'll run into the underbrush. They don't seem to fly unless they're really startled. Often, even then, they will fly low to the ground into the nearest bush for cover. When they run, their short, fast moving legs are almost invisible so the birds seem to hover along the ground (they have a very smooth "gait" so they don't bob up and down when running).
COLOR: mainly black and brown with a little white. Deep blacks, crisp whites. Scalloped pattern on belly.