Barred Buttonquail vs Painted 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

Painted Buttonquail

Turnix varius

Medium90 gShrubland

The painted buttonquail is about 19 to 20 cm (7.5 to 7.9 in) long. It is a ground-dwelling bird and is found in grassy forests and woodlands. It feeds on insects and seeds, and the males incubate the eggs for a fortnight and then care for the young. The female is the more brightly coloured of the sexes. Her eyes are red, and her crown, face and breast are flecked with white. Her shoulders are chestnut with thin white streaking above them. The male is slightly smaller and duller in colour.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kym Nicolson · CC BY 4.0

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