The little buttonquail is a species of buttonquail, part of a small family of birds which resemble, but are unrelated to, the true quails. This species is resident in Australia, where it is one of the more common buttonquails.
Region
Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs across much of mainland Australia, most common in the arid and semi-arid interior and northern savannas. Prefers open grasslands, lightly grazed pastures, fallow croplands, spinifex and tussock grass, and chenopod shrublands. Avoids dense forests and very wet coastal habitats. Uses ground cover for concealment and nests on the ground in shallow scrapes under grass clumps.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Little buttonquails are small, ground-dwelling birds that resemble true quails but belong to a separate family. Females are the dominant sex and often brighter; males incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. They are largely nomadic within Australia, tracking rainfall and food availability, and are among the more frequently encountered buttonquails.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights when flushed
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in small parties; forms loose coveys outside the breeding season. Breeding is polyandrous; females court and may mate with multiple males, while males incubate and rear the young. Nests are shallow ground scrapes concealed beneath grasses.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft booming and repetitive cooing notes, often given at dusk or at night. Calls are low-pitched and can carry surprisingly far across open country.
Plumage
Sandy-brown upperparts densely mottled and streaked with black and buff; underparts pale buff with fine barring on the flanks. Feathers are soft and cryptic, blending with dry grasses and soil.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of small seeds from grasses and herbs, supplemented by insects such as ants, termites, beetles, and other small invertebrates. Will also take green shoots and plant matter when available. Diet shifts with seasonal rainfall and seed abundance.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground in open grass and light shrub cover, often along edges of tracks, fallow fields, and sparsely vegetated plains. Uses cover to remain hidden, moving in short bursts between tussocks.
