Stubble Quail

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Stubble Quail

Stubble Quail

Coturnix pectoralis

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.

Details Description
Type
Bird
Group
Quail
Identifying Characteristics

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.
Distinctive Markings

Each feather has a cream stripe down the middle.
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
Sounds
Clear, ringing "cheery - wit" and "too - too - weep".
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Coturnix
Species
pectoralis
Stubble Quai
Central and south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and south-west Western Australia.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Conservation Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.

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