Coturnix coturnix
The Common Quail, *Coturnix coturnix*, is a diminutive and highly migratory gamebird, celebrated for its elusive nature and distinctive call. Measuring approximately 17-19 cm in length with a wingspan of 32-35 cm and weighing 90-150 grams, its plump, short-tailed body is clad in cryptic brown streaked plumage, perfectly camouflaging it within its grassy habitats. Males are distinguished by darker throat markings, varying from a solid black bib to a dark anchor-shaped pattern, which becomes mo...
Found primarily in open grasslands, cultivated fields (especially cereal crops, hay, alfalfa), meadows, and steppes, preferring areas with dense ground cover for concealment, typically from sea level up to 2000 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of small seeds from grasses, weeds, and cereal crops, supplemented by insects (e.g., beetles, ants, grasshoppers, caterpillars) particularly during the breeding season and for growing chicks.
Common Quails are notoriously secretive and primarily crepuscular and diurnal, often heard but rarely seen as they scurry through dense vegetation, roosting on the ground under cover. They forage by scratching and pecking the ground for seeds and insects, employing a stealthy, low-profile approac...
The Common Quail boasts an expansive Old World range, breeding across much of Europe (from the British Isles eastwards, excluding the far north), temperate Asia, and parts of North Africa. Its breeding distribution extends across diverse landscapes from Portugal to Japan. During the autumn, these...
Least Concern
- The Common Quail is the only truly migratory species among Old World quails, undertaking arduous journeys across continents. - Its distinctive three-note call, often transcribed as 'wet-my-lips' or 'pick-per-wick,' is one of the most recognizable sounds of summer in its breeding range. - Despit...