Turnix castanotus
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) is a small, enigmatic ground-dwelling bird endemic to the tropical savannas and woodlands of northern Australia. Measuring approximately 13-17 cm in length and weighing between 40-70 grams, this species is often mistaken for a true quail but belongs to the distinct family Turnicidae, highlighting a remarkable case of convergent evolution. Females are notably larger and more vibrantly colored than males, displaying a rich chestnut back, grey ...
Primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical grasslands, open woodlands, and savanna with a dense understory of grasses and shrubs, often near rocky outcrops or seasonal wetlands, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Feeds primarily on insects and other small invertebrates such as grasshoppers, beetles, and ants, supplemented with seeds and green vegetation obtained by scratching and pecking the ground.
Chestnut-backed Buttonquails are highly secretive and largely crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk, though they can be active throughout the day, especially after rainfall. They spend almost all their time on the ground, foraging by rapidly scratching and pecking through leaf litter and soil ...
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is endemic to northern Australia, with its primary distribution extending across the Top End of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Its range also stretches into the far northwestern parts of Queensland. This species is non-migrato...
Least Concern
- The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail exhibits "reversed" sexual roles, with the female being larger, more brightly colored, and polyandrous, while the male incubates the eggs and raises the young entirely on his own. - Despite their common name, buttonquails are not true quails (family Phasianidae) ...