Quail

Quail, common name for two groups of bird species within the galliform family: the odontophorine quails of the Americas, and a group comprising the smallest members of a Eurasian subfamily. Species of the latter group are widely distributed, with representatives on all continents and such islands as Madagascar, Japan, New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The common quail of Europe, the similar Japanese quail of eastern Asia, and the rain quail of southern Asia, are all migratory. The Japanese quail, a plump 20-cm (8-in) bird, is widely used in laboratory studies, as it breeds readily and rapidly in captivity. Migrating flocks of the common quail are reported in the Book of Exodus as having supplied food to the Israelites in the wilderness. The handsome blue-breasted quail of Asia and Australia, 13 to 15 cm (5.2 to 6 in) long, is often sold as a cage bird under the names painted quail or button quail; the latter name properly belongs only to the members of an unrelated family.

The odontophorine quails, about 30 species, are different enough from Eurasian quails to have been placed by some authorities in their own family. They are larger, more heavyset birds, with stouter bills that have serrations on the cutting edge of the mandible. They are nonmigratory, and live in habitats ranging from hot deserts to humid montane forests. The few species that reach North America are mostly birds of open country, whereas the tropical species are primarily forest birds.

The best-known species in the United States is the northern bobwhite, named from the loud call of the male. A popular game bird, it was originally resident east of the Rockies and north to southern Ontario and New England; it has been successfully introduced in parts of western North America, the West Indies, and New Zealand. It is 21 to 26 cm (8.5 to 10.5 in) long, with a slight crest. Males of the northern populations are reddish brown above and white, barred with black, on the belly. The throat and a line above the eye are white; a broad black line extends from the eye backward and around the throat. This white area is replaced by buff in the otherwise similar females. In subspecies from the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico, the face, throat, and variable amounts of the rest of the underparts are black.

Monogamous, after the breeding season, bobwhites gather into coveys—groups that may number over 100 birds—dispersing during the day for feeding and reassembling at night or in adverse weather. The members of the covey seek warmth and protection by huddling in a circle, with their heads turned outward. If frightened, bobwhites (like most quail) prefer to run from danger; when flushed, they fly rapidly with a loud whirring sound, but quickly drop to earth.

In the western United States, the most familiar species is the California quail, a handsome bird with a recurved black topknot. Its raucous call can be heard in the soundtrack of many Hollywood productions. A closely similar species, Gambel's quail, inhabits the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

A tropical genus, with 15 species, contains mostly dark-colored, solitary birds of the forest floor. The two species of the southwestern United States south to Nicaragua, are birds of mountain pine-oak forests. The colorful mountain quail of western North America, is also confined to higher altitudes.

Scientific classification: Quails belong to the family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes. American quails make up the subfamily Odontophorinae. Eurasian quails make up the subfamily Phasianinae. The common quail is classified as Coturnix coturnix, the Japanese quail as Coturnix coromandelica, and the blue-breasted quail as Coturnix chinensis. The northern bobwhite is classified as Colinus virginianus, the California quail as Callipepla californica, Gambel's quail as Callipepla gambelii, and the mountain quail as Oreortyx pictus.