# Common Quail (*Coturnix coturnix*) The Common Quail is a small, plump bird known for its beautiful spotted feathers. They are often found in fields and grasslands, making soft calls that sound like little whistles. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Common Quail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coturnix_coturnix%252C_Fraunberg%252C_Bayern%252C_Deutschland_2%252C_Ausschnitt.jpg&width=800) Photo: christoph_moning, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coturnix_coturnix%252C_Fraunberg%252C_Bayern%252C_Deutschland_2%252C_Ausschnitt.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Quail is a small, plump bird with streaky brown feathers that provide excellent camouflage in grasslands. Males have a distinct dark throat stripe, while females are paler with spotted breasts, making them hard to spot among the vegetation. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Phasianidae - **Genus:** Coturnix ## Interesting facts - Quails build their simple nests right on the ground, tucked safely in tall grasses. - Some quails migrate over vast deserts for days, never stopping for water! - The male Common Quail's call is so loud, you can hear it from far away! - They prefer to run and hide from danger rather than flying away immediately. ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Cloak:** Common Quail has streaky brown feathers that help them blend perfectly into grassy fields, making them very hard to spot. - **Explosive Takeoff:** Common Quail can burst vertically into flight because of strong leg muscles that help them escape predators rapidly. - **Long-Distance Flyer:** Common Quail can migrate thousands of kilometers because of efficient wings that help them travel across continents. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-18 cm - **Wingspan:** 32-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.07-0.14 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-3 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-18 - **Incubation:** 16-18 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding They eat seeds, grains, leaves, and small insects found close to the ground. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Cereal grains, Clover leaves, Beetles, Ants, Caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — A common predator that hunts quails in their grassy habitats. - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — A bird of prey that hunts quails from the sky. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Common Quails forage on the ground, eating various insects like ants. - **Eats:** [Wheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wheat) (*Triticum aestivum*) — Quails often feed on grains and seeds found in agricultural fields. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — A small mammal that preys on quails and their ground nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Quail? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Quail? 16-18 cm ### What is Common Quail's wingspan? 32-35 cm ### How much does Common Quail weigh? 0.07-0.14 kg ### How long does Common Quail live? 2-3 years ### How fast can Common Quail move? 60 km/h ### What does Common Quail eat? They eat seeds, grains, leaves, and small insects found close to the ground. ### Where is Common Quail usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Quail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-quail)