Common Quail
Coturnix coturnix
The Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) is a common partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 123 countries, weighing about 96 g. The common quail or European quail is a small ground-nesting game bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae.
About the Common Quail
The common quail or European quail is a small ground-nesting game bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is mainly migratory, breeding in the western Palearctic and wintering in Africa and southern India.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The common quail is a small compact gallinaceous bird 16–18 cm (6+1⁄2–7 in) in length with a wingspan of 32–35 cm (12+1⁄2–14 in). The weight is 70 to 140 g (2+1⁄2 to 5 oz). It is greatest before migration at the end of the breeding season. The female is generally slightly heavier than the male. It is streaked brown with a white eyestripe, and, in the male, a white chin. As befits its migratory nature, it has long wings, unlike the typically short-winged gamebirds. According to Online Etymology Dictionary, "small migratory game bird of the Old World, late 14c. (early 14c.
What the Common Quail sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, South Sudan, Canada, Vietnam, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Niger, Japan, Tajikistan, Iceland.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, with peak activity in June. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Quail?
- The common quail is a small compact gallinaceous bird 16–18 cm (6+1⁄2–7 in) in length with a wingspan of 32–35 cm (12+1⁄2–14 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Quail?
- The Common Quail is a medium sized bird weighing about 96 g.
- Where can you see a Common Quail?
- The Common Quail occurs in 123 countries, including Sweden, France, Portugal, Spain and South Africa.
- What does a Common Quail sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Quail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Quail?
- The Common Quail is most easily confused with the Stubble Quail, the Rain Quail and the Harlequin Quail.
- Is the Common Quail endangered?
- The Common Quail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Quail for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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