Turnix olivii
The Buff-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix olivii) is a cryptic and fascinating ground-dwelling bird endemic to the Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland, Australia. This small, plump species measures 18-21 cm (7.1-8.3 inches) in length and weighs approximately 100-140 grams (3.5-4.9 ounces). Females are notably larger and more brightly colored than males, displaying a rich rufous to buff breast and flanks, contrasting with heavily barred olive-brown and black upperparts. A key field mark is its ...
Primarily inhabiting dense, wet grasslands, sugarcane fields, and overgrown tropical forest edges in lowland areas of northeast Queensland, Australia. It favors habitats with thick ground cover for concealment and foraging.
Feeds predominantly on small seeds, supplemented by a variety of insects and other small invertebrates, including ants, beetles, and termites. Forages primarily by scratching and pecking through leaf litter and loose soil on the ground.
The Buff-breasted Buttonquail is typically a shy, elusive bird, most active during the early morning and late afternoon, though it can be active throughout the day in dense cover. It forages by vigorously scratching the leaf litter with its feet, seeking out seeds and insects. A defining behavior...
The Buff-breasted Buttonquail is endemic to the Wet Tropics bioregion of northeastern Queensland, Australia, primarily concentrated from the southern Cape York Peninsula southwards to the Paluma Range. Its distribution is highly restricted and fragmented, occurring in a narrow coastal strip and a...
Least Concern
- The Buff-breasted Buttonquail exhibits "reversed sexual dimorphism," meaning the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, which is uncommon in the avian world. - It practices polyandry, a rare mating system where one female mates with multiple males, laying a clutch for each, a...