In other ways the sexes are similar in appearance, being mainly grey with spotting and streaking in black, brown and white, and in the case of the male, in reddish-brown as well.

[3] Elegant quail are found only in Mexico, on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

[2] Their range extends from Sonora and southwestern Chihuahua to northern Jalisco and they are generally found in thorny scrub and deciduous forest,[3] on open ground and cultivated fields.

[4] The elegant quail has a wide range with an area of occupation estimated at 118,000 km2 (45,560 sq mi).

It is a common bird and its population is thought to be rising as degradation of the forest creates the open areas it likes.