Synoicus chinensis
The King Quail, or Blue-breasted Quail, is a diminutive and captivating member of the Phasianidae family, often considered the smallest true quail in the world, measuring just 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 in) in length and weighing 28-40 g (1-1.4 oz). Males are strikingly adorned with a slate-blue head and upperparts, a distinct black gorget outlining a white chin and throat, and rich chestnut underparts and flanks; a white stripe above the eye adds to their elegant profile. Females, while more subtly c...
Primarily inhabits dense grasslands, savannas, cultivated fields, and scrubby areas, often near water sources like marshes, rivers, or rice paddies. Typically found in lowlands and up to moderate elevations.
Primarily granivorous, consuming a wide variety of small grass seeds, weed seeds, and fallen grains. They also supplement their diet with small insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season to meet protein demands.
King Quail are diurnal birds, most active during the early morning and late afternoon, spending their nights roosting communally or individually in dense vegetation. They are ground-foraging specialists, constantly scratching and probing the soil and leaf litter for food, moving with quick, jerky...
The King Quail boasts an expansive native range across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. In the Indian Subcontinent, they are found in pockets from India to Bangladesh. Their distribution extends broadly across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, V...
Least Concern
- The King Quail is widely recognized as the smallest 'true' quail species in the world. - Despite their common name, they are not closely related to the true buttonquails of the genus *Turnix*. - They are one of the most popular aviary birds globally, with numerous domesticated color mutations i...