Quail

Quail

Taxobox
name = Quail


image_caption = Common Quail
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Phasianidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
*"Coturnix"
*"Anurophasis"
*"Perdicula"
*"Ophrysia"† See also Pheasant, Partridge, Grouse

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae. New World quails are not closely related but named for their similar appearance and behaviour. Buttonquails are in a different family (Turnicidae) and are not true quails.

Behaviour

Quails are small, plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground and are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight. Some species such as the Japanese and Common Quail are migratory and fly for long distances. [cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Coturnix_japonica.html|title=Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail)|work=Animal Diversity Web|accessdate=2007-09-21] [cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Coturnix_coturnix.html|title=Coturnix coturnix (common quail)|work=Animal Diversity Web|accessdate=2007-09-21] Some quail are farmed in large numbers. The Japanese Quail (or coturnix quail) is kept mostly to produce eggs.

Species in taxonomic order

*Genus "Coturnix"
**Common Quail, "Coturnix coturnix"
**Japanese Quail, "Coturnix japonica"
**Stubble Quail, "Coturnix pectoralis"
**New Zealand Quail, "Coturnix novaezelandiae" Extinct
**Rain Quail, "Coturnix coromandelica"
**Harlequin Quail, "Coturnix delegorguei"
**Brown Quail, "Coturnix ypsilophora"
**Blue Quail, "Coturnix adansonii"
**Asian Blue Quail, "Coturnix chinensis"
*Genus "Anurophasis"
**Snow Mountain Quail, "Anurophasis monorthonyx"
*Genus "Perdicula"
**Jungle Bush-quail, "Perdicula asiatica"
**Rock Bush-quail, "Perdicula argoondah"
**Painted Bush-quail, "Perdicula erythrorhyncha"
**Manipur Bush-quail, "Perdicula manipurensis"
*Genus "Ophrysia"
**Himalayan Quail, "Ophrysia superciliosa" Critically Endangered/Extinct

ee also

*Quail eggs
*Quails in cookery
*Dick Cheney hunting incident

References

External links

* [http://www.gamebird.com/button.html Quail Breeding]
* [http://www.coturnixcorner.com/forum Coturnix Corner Quail Forum]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Quail — Quail, n. [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia, qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any gallinaceous bird belonging to {Coturnix} and several allied genera… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • QUAIL — (Heb. שְׂלָו), the bird Coturnix coturnix, the smallest of the pheasant family. The quail is approximately seven inches (about 18 cm.) long and weighs some 3½ ounces (100 gr.). The color of its plumage is like that of the house sparrow, a fact… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Quail — Quail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Qualled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Qualling}.] [AS. cwelan to die, perish; akin to cwalu violent death, D. kwaal pain, G. qual torment, OHG. quelan to suffer torment, Lith. gelti to hurt, gela pain. Cf. {Quell}.] 1. To die; to …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quail — the bird [14] and quail ‘cower’ [15] are not related. The former comes via Old French quaille from medieval Latin coacula, which probably originated in imitation of the bird’s grating cry. It is not known for certain where the verb (which… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • Quail — Quail, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 33 Housing Units (2000): 16 Land area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Quail, TX — U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 33 Housing Units (2000): 16 Land area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.168881 sq. miles (8.207363 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • quail — quail·berry; quail; un·quail·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • quail — the bird [14] and quail ‘cower’ [15] are not related. The former comes via Old French quaille from medieval Latin coacula, which probably originated in imitation of the bird’s grating cry. It is not known for certain where the verb (which… …   Word origins

  • Quail — Quail, v. t. [Cf. {Quell}.] To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Quail — Quail, v. i. [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L. coagulare. See {Coagulate}.] To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] Holland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quail — Ⅰ. quail [1] ► NOUN (pl. same or quails) ▪ a small short tailed game bird, typically with brown camouflaged plumage. ORIGIN Old French quaille, from Latin coacula. Ⅱ. quail [2] ► VERB …   English terms dictionary

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