Quail

Quail — Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae.

The New World quails are not closely related, but are named for their similar appearance and behaviour.

The Old World buttonquails are also in a different family Turnicidae, and are not true quails.

The quails are small, plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters, but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground. They are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight. Some species, including the Japanese and Common Quail, are migratory and fly for long distances.

The bobwhite, Colinus virginianus, a North American game bird, measures up to 28 cm (11 in) in length; the male has a white throat and bands across each side of the head. It is considered beneficial to farmers because its diet includes a wide variety of agricultural pests.

The Old World common quail, Coturnix coturnix, domesticated in Japan and other countries, often migrates in dense flocks. The sparrow-sized Chinese painted quail, Excalfactoria chinensis, is the smallest known gallinaceous bird–that is, a bird related to the domestic fowl.

The quails are small, plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters, but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground. They are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight. Some species, including the Japanese and Common Quail, are migratory and fly for long distances.

Some quail are farmed in large numbers. These include Japanese Quail, also commonly known as coturnix quail, mostly kept to produce eggs.