Stubble Quail
A species of Typical Old World Quails Scientific name : Coturnix pectoralis Genus : Typical Old World Quails
Stubble Quail, A species of Typical Old World Quails
Botanical name: Coturnix pectoralis
Genus: Typical Old World Quails
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Description
The stubble quail is a ground dwelling bird that is characterised by its dark brown feathers with a cream coloured strip down the centre of each feather giving rise to stripes down the length of the bird. It is a plump species that is larger than other native quails. Male birds will mature at about 18.0–18.5 cm long and females are generally slightly larger. Adult males weigh around 100g and the females around 110g with all birds having a wingspan of between 25–33 cm. The stubble quail can also be identified by the loud whirring noise made by their wings during take-off into flight once disturbed from on the ground. 
Size
20 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Stubble Quail mainly eats seeds from grasses, cereals, and weeds, with favorites like oats and barley. They also eat plant parts and insects, accounting for up to 32% of their diet. They forage on the ground and will climb stalks to reach seeds.
Habitat
Stubble Quail primarily inhabits grassland environments and areas with dense ground vegetation, such as Spinifex thickets and cultivated fields, particularly where cereal crops are grown. They show a preference for areas with tall, dense vegetation ranging from 25 to 75 cm but are also adaptable to regions with lower cover and may occupy bare ground when food is plentiful. Preferred habitats are generally in drier regions and they can extend into arid zones following significant rainfall or flooding.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
Stubble quail are found in a diverse range of habitats from very dry parts of Australia to alpine grasslands. Stubble quail are more common in the high rainfall areas of southeastern and western Australia though are often found in the arid zone after above average rainfall. The species was found in all Australian states including Tasmania up until the 1940s to 1960s when they became extinct in Tasmania. On the mainland stubble quail are found in a variety of biomes but tend to avoid wooded areas as the canopy obstructs the growth of thick grassy undergrowth that they prefer. The quail prefer a habitat of tall grassland made up of native grass species, introduced species or crops. The density of the ground cover is highly important for Stubble quail habitat as the birds prefer very dense vegetation. A high density of kangaroos and rabbits (or any grazing animal) in an area can decrease the height and density of grassland vegetation and make the habitat unsuitable for stubble quail. The birds are frequently found in agricultural areas after the harvest of cereal crops where they feed on grain and insects.
Species Status
Foxes and cats are their biggest predators, especially when nesting. Humans also reduce the numbers of stubble quail as they can legally be hunted in some parts of Australia, however there are strict regulations in place to ensure that they are not hunted at times when the population is weak such as breeding, moulting and environmental stress.
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Family
Phasianidae Genus
Typical Old World Quails Species
Stubble Quail 
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