The following information is taken in part from an excellent book on game birds titled, ' Upland Game Birds - Their Breeding and Care '. Probably one of the most striking of all the members of the quail family is the Mountain Quail. It is by far the largest and has some of the most desirable characteristics of any quail kept in captivity. The Mountain quail is also known as Codorniz de mountana, Mountain partridge, Painted quail, Plumed quail, and San Pedro quail. An interesting thing about Mountain quail is the way the eggs hatch.
Eggs often hatch over a three day period which is unusual for any member of the quail family.
Usually these birds pop right out of the egg. Another thing about Mountain quail is their reputation for not being regular producers. Adults , 10.6-11.5 inches long. The sexes are very similar in appearance. This relatively large western quail differs from all others in that both sexes have straight, narrow, and blackish crests composed of only two feathers, which appear with the juvenile plumage.