These 'New World' Quail seem a lot more 'arboreal' than some other species. Most photos I see of Californians, they are perched on branches like this, rather than on the floor. Chester used to have one in the Tropical House that seemed to spend most of its time on a very high ledge, up near the roof.
When undisturbed, they spend a lot of time on the ground, foraging & dust-bathing. They feel more secure high up, certainly if there are people about. Old World Quail of course don't perch at all, while all the New world species I've worked with, perch as freely as pheasants.
What are they like as Aviary birds? I know they roost up high but in a small (normally undisturbed) flight do they tend to use the branches a lot in the daytime too and/or disturb smaller birds, or stay on the ground?
