One summer I photographed some unusual Gambel's quail that were frequenting a suburban neighborhood on the east side of Tucson, AZ. From May to August I saw seven abnormally pigmented quail, 3 downy chicks, 3 adult females and 1 adult male. While not albinos because of noticeable pigmentation in the beaks, eyes, and feathers, they certainly weren't normal Gambel's quail. The genetic term that most likely applies is "dillution." In other words there is normal melanin production, but reduced quantities of melanin in the plumage because the melanin is not transfered properly from the melanocytes in the feather follicle to the feathers.

Apparently, the genetics of these quail follows the pattern of common dominant-recessive. I saw three pale chicks with normally pigmented parents. Two pale females paired with normal males had all normal chicks. The single aberant male was unpaired and was frequently harassed by other quail, whereas the pale females weren't bothered any more than any other quail.

A female with patchy and pale pigmentation.	A female with faded pigmentation.	A male with faded and patchy pigmentation.
Another photo of the male.	A faded and patchy female with her normal mate and a normal offspring.	A faded female with her normal male mate.
A patchy and faded female with her normally pigmented chicks.	Another photo of the same female and brood.	More of the same.