Barred Buttonquail vs Common Buttonquail

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

Small49 gGrassland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Gururajakv at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Small53 gShrubland

The common buttonquail resembles the common quail. It has streaked sandy brown upperparts, buff underparts with black flank markings, and a plain face. In flight, a whitish wingbar contrasts with the grey wing. Sexes are similar, but immature birds are more spotted below. This tiny buttonquail is notoriously difficult to see. It is a small, 15 cm (5.9 in) long drab running bird, which avoids flying.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: William Stephens · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Barred Buttonquail and Common Buttonquail.