# Quail (*Coturnix coturnix*) Quails are small, fluffy birds that like to live on the ground. They have round bodies and short tails, making them super cute! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Also known as:** Bobwhite, Scaled Quail ![Quail](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426086/objects/4594.jpg) ## Appearance The Quail is a small, plump game bird with streaky brown, black, and cream plumage that provides excellent camouflage. Males often have a distinctive dark throat patch that varies in pattern. Its rounded body and short tail make it appear very compact. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Odontophoridae - **Genus:** Coturnix ## Interesting facts - A group of quails is called a 'covey,' and they stick together. - Baby quail can run around and feed themselves just hours after hatching! - Quail often hide by freezing perfectly still, hoping you won't see them. - Some quail travel thousands of miles across continents each year! ## Special abilities - **Explosive Takeoff:** Quail can burst into rapid, vertical flight from a standstill because of powerful leg muscles and short, rounded wings. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Quail has streaky brown and cream feathers that help them disappear against the ground and grasses, hiding from predators. - **Secretive Nester:** Quail can build well-hidden nests directly on the ground, tucked away in dense vegetation, to protect their eggs. ## 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:** 6-12 - **Incubation:** 17-20 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding Quail mostly munch on seeds and leaves, but also enjoy a tasty insect snack. - **Age differences:** Chicks eat more insects for protein; adults shift more to plant matter. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Weed seeds, Leaves, Beetles, Ants, Small snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — A common predator that hunts adult quail and their chicks. - **Eats:** [Wheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wheat) (*Triticum aestivum*) — Quail feed on fallen wheat grains in agricultural fields. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Quail chicks and adults frequently consume ants. - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — A swift bird of prey that can catch quails in open areas. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [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 Quails are friendly birds, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Quail? 16-18 cm ### What is Quail's wingspan? 32-35 cm ### How much does Quail weigh? 0.07-0.14 kg ### How long does Quail live? 2-3 years ### How fast can Quail move? 60 km/h ### What does Quail eat? Quail mostly munch on seeds and leaves, but also enjoy a tasty insect snack. ### How does Quail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-butterfly-and-nature-conservatory) — Florida, US · Zoo ## 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: [Quail: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quail)