The common buttonquail, also called Kurrichane buttonquail and Andalusian hemipode, is a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds that resemble but are not closely related to the true quails.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Typical Environment
The common buttonquail ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa, parts of North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and into Southeast Asia. It favors dry grasslands, open scrub, savanna edges, fallow fields, and light cultivation such as millet or sorghum. It also occurs in coastal dunes and semi-arid plains with scattered cover. The species is highly terrestrial and keeps to dense ground vegetation, avoiding closed forest and very wet habitats.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Despite their name, buttonquails are not true quails and belong to a separate family (Turnicidae). Females are more brightly colored, initiate courtship, and are polyandrous, while males incubate the eggs and rear the chicks. They are adept at running and prefer to escape by dashing through cover, only taking short, explosive flights when pressed.
Turnix sylvaticus - MHNT
Temperament
secretive and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; explosive flush, then a brief low flight
Social Behavior
Females court males and may mate with multiple partners, while males build the nest, incubate, and care for the brood. Nests are shallow ground scrapes concealed under grass tussocks. Outside the breeding season they may occur singly, in pairs, or in small family groups and often freeze or run rather than fly when disturbed.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
The female gives a low, booming hoot or drum-like ‘oom-oom’ series, often at dawn or dusk, that can carry surprisingly far. Soft clucks and chirrs are used at close range, with a harsh chatter when alarmed.
