MONTEZUMA QUAIL Cyrtonyx montezumae (male) photo by Tom Wood One of the most secretive of all southwestern "specialties," this species is common enough to be hunted yet is often missed by birders. It inhabits the oak zone of southeastern Arizona's "sky island" mountains, where it blends so well with the stony ground and leaf litter that an entire covey may appear as no more than a pile of rocks. This camouflage is enhanced by the habit of freezing in place when danger threatens, a behavior that has earned it the nickname "fool quail" among hunters. Montezuma Quail are occasionally sighted on SABO's Canyon Walks.