Stubble Quail

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Stubble Quail - The State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries/McCann

Coturnix pectoralis

Small, ground dwelling bird (18-18.5 cm). Dark brown colouring with pale, buff markings and a white underside. The female is generally larger than the male. The male has black markings on the chest and a buff-coloured throat. The female lacks these markings and has a white throat.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Quail
Biology

Breeding season is most commonly spring through to early summer although it is dependent on rainfall. These birds nest on the ground under tussock grasses. Outside the breeding season they tend to form small groups. In the breeding season they form monogamous pairs. Clutch size is between 7 and 14 eggs. Incubation is for 18-21 days. Both sexes guard and care for the young until they are about 6 weeks old.
Distinctive Markings

Each feather has a cream stripe down the middle.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Coturnix
Species
pectoralis
Central and south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and south-west Western Australia.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Is often seen and heard when 'flushed' from vegetation.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore but mainly feeds on grain. Opportunisitic foragers ranging from cultivated cereals to pasture plants or weeds. Supplements diet with clover, insects and some crustaceans.
Habitat

Open grassland, saltbush or spinifex. Well adapted to stubble, cereal and lucerne crops. Prefers areas of tall, dense ground vegetation.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Audio
Audio samples
Sounds
Clear, ringing "cheery - wit" and "too - too - weep".