Overview
It is a small, round bird, essentially 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.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Coturnix
- Species
- coturnix conturbans
Habitat
Open areas with ground cover.
Diet
Seeds, insects.
Behavior
This is a terrestrial species, feeding on the ground. It is notoriously difficult to see, keeping hidden in crops, and reluctant to fly, preferring to creep away instead. Even when flushed, it keeps low and soon drops back into cover. Often the only indication of its presence is the distinctive wet-my-lips repetitive song of the male. The call is uttered mostly in the mornings, evenings and sometimes at night. It is a strongly migratorybird, unlike most game birds.
Hunting
Hunted across its range.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.