Quail eat a diverse diet that includes seeds, insects, berries, and vegetation. In the wild, these small game birds primarily forage for grass seeds, weed seeds, and wildflowers while also hunting insects for protein.
Captive quail thrive on commercial game bird feed supplemented with mealworms, leafy greens, and essential grit for digestion. Their diet varies seasonally, with specific nutritional needs changing throughout the year.
These determined little foragers scurry across the ground with their plump bodies and distinctive topknots bobbing as they search for their next meal. Their surprisingly diverse diets change with the seasons and their environment.
Common Quails eat around 100 different plant species
Wild Quail Feeding Habits
In the wild, quail primarily eat seeds—lots and lots of seeds. Watch a covey of quail in tall grass, and you'll notice how they methodically work through an area, pecking at fallen seeds from grasses, weeds, and wildflowers.
They don't just randomly peck; they'll often scratch at the ground with their feet first, creating a small clearing where hidden seeds become visible.
Different species have their own dietary preferences. Common quail consume over 100 different plant species, while California quail eat about 70% plant material from sources like lotus, clover, and lupins. Gambel's quail, native to desert regions, consume around 90% plant food, including cactus fruits and sagebrush.
Protein Hunters
During spring and summer, quail become protein hunters. They'll chase down insects with surprising bursts of speed, nabbing crickets, beetles, and grasshoppers that never saw them coming.
A female quail feeding chicks might spend hours gathering tiny ants and spiders, storing them temporarily in her crop before regurgitating the nutritious meal for her young.
These omnivorous birds aren't picky about their protein sources—they'll readily consume beetles, ants, earwigs, termites, grasshoppers, spiders, worms, and even ticks. Bobwhite quail are particularly helpful to farmers as they eat large quantities of ticks that might otherwise plague livestock.
A pair of Gambel's Quails (Callipepla gambelii) foraging for food in the desert
Autumn Feasts
Come autumn, you might spot quail under oak trees, gobbling up fallen acorns with remarkable efficiency. They'll hammer at these larger food items with their beaks, breaking them into manageable pieces.
The same goes for small berries—quail will strip a low-growing blackberry bush clean, their beaks stained purple from their feast.
Winter Survival
Winter changes everything. When snow blankets the ground in northern regions, quail become expert scavengers. They'll dig through snow to find cached seeds, crowd under bird feeders for spilled millet, and even resort to eating bitter buds and bark when times get truly tough.
California quail in milder climates have it easier, feasting on the abundant evergreen berries and persistent weed seeds.
During winter, quail spend much more of their day foraging compared to summer, when they might feed just two or three times daily. Many quail species, particularly Common quail, are surprisingly migratory despite their small size—travelling thousands of miles from northern regions to warmer climates where food remains abundant.
California Quail (Callipepla californica) foraging for food on the ground
Captive Quail Dietary Needs
For those raising quail, their natural diet provides the blueprint for proper nutrition. Commercial game bird feed forms the foundation—about 20-24% protein for growing birds and 16-18% for adults. But quail kept in captivity benefit enormously from supplements that mimic their wild diet.
A well-balanced captive diet should consist of approximately 80% grains and seeds (barley, oats, wheat, cracked corn, millet, and sunflower seeds), with the remaining 20% from vegetables, fruits, and protein sources. Dark leafy greens like broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce are excellent vegetable options.
The Mealworm Frenzy
Throw a handful of mealworms into a quail enclosure and watch the frenzy that ensues. These birds transform from calm foragers to competitive sprinters, chasing down each wriggling worm with single-minded determination. Their natural insect-hunting behaviours emerge instantly.
While mealworms are a favourite treat, they should be offered in moderation as they're quite fatty. They're particularly valuable during breeding season when extra protein is needed.
Greens and Vegetation
Leafy greens trigger another feeding response altogether. Quail will methodically shred kale, spinach, and dandelion leaves, working them down to the stems. They don't just eat the greens—they seem to savour them, taking breaks between bites as though enjoying a lengthy meal.
Breeding Season Nutrition
Seasonal adjustments matter for captive quail, too. During the breeding season, females need extra calcium—crushed oyster shell disappears quickly as their bodies prepare to produce eggs with strong shells.
Males will often stand back, letting the females take priority at these calcium sources—a rare display of mealtime chivalry.
A flock of quail huddled together in the winter
Feeding Baby Quail
Baby quail have unique dietary needs compared to adults. For their first week of life, chicks cannot digest harder foods like grains and seeds. In the wild, they consume approximately 80-90% invertebrates during this period.
Interestingly, quail parents don't directly feed their young—the chicks can feed themselves after just a couple of days. Parents will, however, peck at food items to demonstrate what's edible, a form of teaching through example. They remain highly protective and communicative with their chicks during the first two weeks.
For captive baby quail, a high-protein starter feed is essential. This soft feed mimics the easily digestible insects they would find in nature.
Quail watching over chicks feeding
The Essential Grit
Whether wild or captive, one thing remains constant: quail need grit. These tiny stones serve as their teeth, sitting in their gizzard to grind tough seeds and insect exoskeletons.
Watch closely and you might catch quail deliberately picking up small pebbles, turning them in their beaks before swallowing—they're literally choosing their own digestive tools.
Foods to Avoid
While quail are adaptable eaters, certain foods should never be offered to them. Chocolate, coffee, parsley, and avocado can be toxic to quail and other birds. Onions should be avoided if you're keeping quail for eggs, as they can affect egg flavour.
Bread isn't toxic but offers poor nutrition. When offered too frequently, it can lead to malnutrition as birds fill up on bread instead of more nutritious options. Always provide a diverse diet rich in seeds, greens, and appropriate protein sources.
A family of Jungle Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)
Attracting Wild Quail
If you hope to observe quail in your yard, create an environment that matches their natural habitat preferences. Unlike many birds, quail prefer dense cover with plenty of hiding places. Gardens with extensive lawns are less appealing than those with thick shrubs, tall grasses, and flowering plants.
Ground feeders are essential—quail won't visit elevated bird tables. Fill these with mixed seeds, cracked corn, and millet. A shallow water dish at ground level is equally important, especially during dry periods.
For anyone raising these birds or simply enjoying watching them in nature, understanding their diverse diet helps make sense of their constant foraging behaviour.
That perpetual motion isn't random—it's a sophisticated feeding strategy evolved over thousands of years, allowing these small birds to thrive in habitats ranging from desert scrubland to suburban gardens.
A pair of Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) drinking water