I live in Howard county south of Big Spring.
I’ve been feeding birds and watching them out my window. Bunches of mourning dove pairs and various other birds but the last couple days, 2 sets of blue quail have showed up. I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to tell which is male and which is female.
Anyone know? I had a pair last year that suddenly something - probably a damn tom cat - killed one. Saddest thing I ever saw when the survivor was just wandering around aimlessly like she was lost and didn’t know what to do. I’m going to take proactive counter measures this year. A grey fox or a bob cat might get one of these 4 but it won’t be a roaming tom cat this time.

House cats are a big time predator of all birds, not just quail.

I think if you look closely at the feathers on their throats the males are a little lighter colored and the females have some darker fine lines. Very hard to tell without both sitting in front of you.

Thank you Whiptale. Now that you mention that, I think I may have noticed that this afternoon when they came the second time today.
One pair came really close to my window this afternoon, and the sun was just right. I think I saw what you are describing. The little tiny grasshoppers are just now hatching and they seem to be having a field day on those guys.

Just a side note about the blue quail. I heard one calling this morning. Went outside to see where it was coming from and sounded just a little bit strange - was missing the second part of the call. It was a dang mocking bird up on my electric pole LOL. He had the first part down pat but was missing the second part of their call. I expect he will have that one down pat in a few more days. Had one at lake Brownwood one time that could do a cell phone factory default ring tone absolutely to perfection. People be looking for their cell phone