Discover Nature at JCU Animals Birds by scientific name Coturnix ypsilophora

Coturnix ypsilophora

Female quail

(Brown quail)

FAMILY

Phasianidae

Species

Coturnix ypsilophora

Common name

Brown quail

Main colour

Brown

Distinctive feature

Ground hugging, brown with fine bars on underparts, body 17.5 cm

Campus

Cairns, Townsville

Description

A small plump looking bird about 17.5 cm long, with a very short tail. It is usually observed when you are walking through grassland and it suddenly runs out of the grass. Best seen early or late in the day. Brown body mottled with black and white, paler with similar mottles on underparts. Legs and feet yellow, eyes reddish or dirty yellow, bill black. Photographs courtesy of Ian Montgomery, www.birdway.com.au

male quail