Turnix ocellatus
The Spotted Buttonquail (Turnix ocellatus) is a captivating, quail-like bird endemic to the Philippines, though it is not a true quail but belongs to the family Turnicidae, within the order Charadriiformes. This species exhibits pronounced reversed sexual dimorphism, a hallmark of buttonquails, where the female is typically larger and more brightly colored than the male, measuring around 18-20 cm in length and weighing 75-90 grams. Her plumage is rich rufous-brown on the upperparts, intricate...
Found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats, including grasslands, secondary growth, clearings, scrubland, and forest edges, from lowlands up to mid-montane elevations around 1,500 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of small insects (such as grasshoppers, beetles, and ants) and their larvae, as well as various seeds and some green plant matter, all gleaned from the ground.
Spotted Buttonquails are highly secretive, ground-dwelling birds, often detected by their distinctive calls rather than by sight. They are most active during dawn and dusk, foraging solitarily or in small groups by scratching vigorously through leaf litter and loose soil with their strong feet, s...
The Spotted Buttonquail is endemic to the Philippine archipelago, with a widespread but fragmented distribution across many of its major islands. Its primary range includes Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, Negros, Panay, Cebu, Samar, Bohol, and Mindanao. While generally considered a resident species thro...
Least Concern
- The female Spotted Buttonquail is typically larger and more brightly colored than the male, a rare example of reversed sexual dimorphism in the avian world. - Females are polyandrous, meaning one female mates with multiple males, laying a clutch of eggs for each male to incubate and raise. - De...