Quail
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.[1] [2] Some quail are farmed in large numbers. The Japanese Quail (or coturnix quail) is kept mostly to produce eggs.
Species in taxonomic order
FAMILY PHASIANIDAE
- 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
FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDAE
- Genus Dendrortyx
- Bearded Tree Quail, Dendrortyx barbatus
- Long-tailed Tree Quail, Dendrortyx macroura
- Buffy-crowned Tree Quail, Dendrortyx leucophrys
- Genus Oreortyx
- Mountain Quail, Oreortyx pictus
- Genus Callipepla
- Scaled Quail, (commonly called Blue Quail) Callipepla squamata
- Elegant Quail, Callipepla douglasii
- California Quail, Callipepla californica
- Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii
- Genus Philortyx
- Banded Quail, Philortyx fasciatus
- Genus Colinus
- Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
- Black-throated Bobwhite, Colinus nigrogularis
- Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Colinus leucopogon
- Crested Bobwhite, Colinus cristatus
- Genus Odontophorus
- Marbled Wood Quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
- Spot-winged Wood Quail, Odontophorus capueira
- Black-eared Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanotis
- Rufous-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus erythrops
- Black-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus atrifrons
- Chestnut Wood Quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus
- Dark-backed Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanonotus
- Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus speciosus
- Tacarcuna Wood Quail, Odontophorus dialeucos
- Gorgeted Wood Quail, Odontophorus strophium
- Venezuelan Wood Quail, Odontophorus columbianus
- Black-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus
- Stripe-faced Wood Quail, Odontophorus balliviani
- Starred Wood Quail, Odontophorus stellatus
- Spotted Wood Quail, Odontophorus guttatus
- Genus Dactylortyx
- Singing Quail, Dactylortyx thoracicus
- Genus Cyrtonyx
- Montezuma Quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae
- Ocellated Quail, Cyrtonyx ocellatus
- Genus Rhynchortyx
- Tawny-faced Quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus
See also
Quail eggs in a nest
- Quail eggs
- Quails in cookery
- Dick Cheney hunting incident
References
- ↑ "Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
- ↑ "Coturnix coturnix (common quail)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
External links