Turnicidae - Buttonquails

There are 18 species of small ground-dwelling birds found in this family. Buttonquails are found in warm regions in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They are small, quail-like birds, 5-7 inches in length.

Buttonquail live in scrubby grasslands and open woodlands. They have plump bodies, small heads, and small bills. They have three front toes and no rear toe. Buttonquails are usually a speckled brown and gray in color. Females are usually larger and more boldly colored than males.

Females mate with more than one male. Males incubate the eggs for 12-13 days and care for the chicks for about two weeks.

Turnicidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

 Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Sumba Buttonquail - Turnix everetti  
The Sumba buttonquail is found in Indonesia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Chestnut-backed Buttonquail - Turnix castanotus
The chestnut-backed buttonquail is found in Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Black-breasted Buttonquail - Turnix melanogaster
The black-breasted buttonquail is found in Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Madagascar Buttonquail - Turnix nigricollis
The Madagascar buttonquail is found in Madagascar.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Hottentot Buttonquail - Turnix hottentottus
The Hottentot buttonquail is found in South Africa.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Spotted Buttonquail - Turnix ocellatus  
The spotted buttonquail is found in the Philippines.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Yellow-legged Buttonquail - Turnix tanki  
The yellow-legged buttonquail is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Painted Buttonquail - Turnix varius  
The painted buttonquail is found in Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Common Buttonquail - Turnix sylvaticus
The common buttonquail is found in central and southern Africa as well as in India and southeastern Asia and southern Spain.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Quail-plover -  Ortyxelos meiffrenii
The quail-plover is also known as the lark buttonquail. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Barred Buttonquail - Turnix suscitator  
The barred buttonquail is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No