Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae. New World quails are not closely related but named for their similar appearance and behaviour. Buttonquails are in a different family (Turnicidae) and are not true quails.

Behaviour

Quails are small, plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground and are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight. Some species such as the Japanese and Common Quail are migratory and fly for long distances. Some quail are farmed in large numbers. The Japanese Quail (or coturnix quail) is kept mostly to produce eggs.

Species in taxonomic order

• Genus Coturnix
• Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica
• Stubble Quail, Coturnix pectoralis
• New Zealand Quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae Extinct
• Rain Quail, Coturnix coromandelica
• Harlequin Quail, Coturnix delegorguei
• Brown Quail, Coturnix ypsilophora
• Blue Quail, Coturnix adansonii
• Asian Blue Quail, Coturnix chinensis
• Genus Anurophasis
• Snow Mountain Quail, Anurophasis monorthonyx
• Genus Perdicula
• Jungle Bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica
• Rock Bush-quail, Perdicula argoondah
• Painted Bush-quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha
• Manipur Bush-quail, Perdicula manipurensis
• Genus Ophrysia
• Himalayan Quail, Ophrysia superciliosa Critically Endangered/Extinct

See also

• Quail eggs
• Quails in cookery
• Dick Cheney hunting incident

References

External links

• Quail Breeding
• Coturnix Corner Quail Forum