Coturnix coturnix
The Common Quail is a small, plump gamebird with a round body and short tail. Its plumage is primarily brown and buff, with intricate black and white markings. The male features a distinctive black anchor-shaped throat patch.
Females are similar but lack the bold throat marking and have more heavily streaked breasts; they're also generally heavier and have slightly longer tails. Both sexes have a pale stripe above the eye and dark crown stripes.
Chicks start life with fluffy yellow downy feathers, and their heads and upperparts have dark striping. Juveniles resemble adult females but have barred flanks.
Length
16cm to 18cm
Wingspan
32cm to 35cm
Weight
70g to 140g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Buff
Secondary Colour
White Black
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Pink
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Common Quails inhabit open grasslands, agricultural fields, and meadows across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They prefer areas with tall grasses or crops that provide cover.
As long-distance migrants, they breed in Europe and western Asia and winter in Africa and southern Asia. In the UK, they are summer visitors, arriving in May and departing by September.
Up to 1,000 meters
Temperate, Mediterranean, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Quail. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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