Quail

Quails
Common Quail
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae†
Genera
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. This article deals with the Old World species in the former family. 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 completely unrelated to the 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.

Quails are famous for not being shot by current Vice President Dick Cheney, who accidentally hit his hunting companion Harry Whittington.

Species list

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

See also

• Quails in cookery
• CallAir A-9 Quail, an agricultural aircraft named for the quail