Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, Many of the common larger species are farm-raised for table food or egg consumption. Old World Quail 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. The Common and Japanese (also known as the Coturnix we know) quail are both raised for table meat or to produce eggs. Some varieties readily hunted, often artificially incubated and hatched on game farms or to supplement wild populations.
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
Canary Islands Quail, Coturnix gomerae (fossil)
Brown Quail, Coturnix ypsilophora
Genus Excalfactoria
Chinese Blue Breasted Quail, Excalfactoria chinensis
Blue Quail, Excalfactoria adansonii
Genus Anurophasis
Snow Mountains 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)
New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae. They are generally short winged, necked and tailed. Their bills are short, slightly curved and serrated. The legs are short and powerful, and lack
the spurs of many Old World galliforms. Although they are capable of short bursts of strong flight New World quails prefer to walk, and will run from danger (or hide), taking off explosively only as a last
resort. Plumage varies from dull to spectacular, and many species have ornamental crests or plumes on the head. There is moderate sexual dichromisim in plumage, with males having brighter plumage. New World Quail are hunted on game farms or in the wild, where they may be released to supplement the wild population, or extend into areas outside their natural range.
New World Quail have many species and subspecies. They are a very diverse group. The Bobwhite quail have about 24 subspecies within them.Compared to Old World Quail, The New World quail are
shy diurnal birds and generally live on the ground; even the tree quails which roost in high trees generally feed mainly on the ground. They are generalists with regards to their diet, taking insects, seeds, vegetation and tubers. Desert species in particular consume a lot of seeds.
Family Odontophoridae
- 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
- Rufus-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
Recommended Books on Quail
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