Barred Buttonquail
Turnix suscitator
The Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator) is a uncommon buttonquail found in 19 countries, weighing about 49 g. The barred buttonquail or common bustard-quail is a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds which resemble, but are not closely related to, the true quails.










About the Barred Buttonquail
The barred buttonquail or common bustard-quail is a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds which resemble, but are not closely related to, the true quails. This species is resident from India across tropical Asia to south China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
A typical little buttonquail, rufous-brown above, rusty and buff below. Chin, throat and breast closely barred with black. Female larger and more richly coloured, with throat and middle of breast black. The blue-grey bill and legs, and yellowish white eyes are diagnostic, as are also the pale buff shoulder-patches on the wings when in flight. Absence of hind toe distinguishes Bustard and Button quails from true quails. Pairs, in scrub and grassland. The calls are a motorcycle-like drr-r-r-r-r-r and a loud hoon- hoon-hoon.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Barred Buttonquail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Barred Buttonquail?
- A typical little buttonquail, rufous-brown above, rusty and buff below. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Barred Buttonquail?
- The Barred Buttonquail is a small sized bird weighing about 49 g.
- Where can you see a Barred Buttonquail?
- The Barred Buttonquail occurs in 19 countries, including India, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
- What birds look similar to a Barred Buttonquail?
- The Barred Buttonquail is most easily confused with the Painted Buttonquail, the Common Buttonquail and the Little Buttonquail.
- Is the Barred Buttonquail endangered?
- The Barred Buttonquail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Barred Buttonquail for real
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