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Button-quail (Turnix spp.)

BirdGround birdOld World

Buttonquail (Turnix), a small rounded ground bird resembling a true quail.

Barred buttonquail (Turnix suscitator).

Image: Tisha Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Button-quails (genus Turnix, family Turnicidae) are small, plump, secretive ground birds of the Old World's grasslands and scrub. They look remarkably like true quails — hence the name — but they are not true quails at all, and are not closely related to them.

True quails belong to the gamebird order (Galliformes), whereas button-quails sit in the shorebird order (Charadriiformes). Among their oddities, button-quails lack a hind toe (giving them only three forward-pointing toes) and they show a reversal of the usual sex roles.

Note: there are many button-quail species; details here describe the group broadly, with the barred buttonquail (Turnix suscitator) as a familiar example.

Habitat & Range

Button-quails live in grassland, scrub, crops, and other low, dense ground cover across warmer parts of Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. They keep to thick vegetation, where their cryptic, streaky plumage hides them well, and they are far more often heard than seen.

Diet

Button-quails are omnivores, feeding on seeds, green shoots, and small invertebrates such as insects. They forage on the ground, scratching and pecking through litter and low vegetation, and a foraging bird often turns in tight circles as it feeds.

Behavior

Button-quails are best known for their reversed sex roles. The female is larger and more boldly marked than the male, and she gives a deep, far-carrying booming or purring call to attract mates and defend a territory. After laying, she typically leaves the eggs to the male, which incubates them and tends the chicks — and she may go on to pair with additional males. Button-quails are reluctant fliers, preferring to run and hide and bursting into short, low flight only when nearly stepped on.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Button-quails are widespread but inconspicuous, and many species are common in grassland and farmland. Some are affected by intensive agriculture and habitat loss, and a few are localised or of conservation concern. Consult the IUCN Red List for the status of a particular species.

More photos of the button-quail

A barred buttonquail walking on bare ground.

Barred buttonquail (Turnix suscitator), India.

Image: Tisha Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Button-quail

Is a button-quail a real quail?
No. Despite the close resemblance and the name, button-quails are not true quails. True quails are gamebirds (order Galliformes), while button-quails belong to the shorebird order (Charadriiformes). The likeness is superficial.
Why are female button-quails the showy ones?
Button-quails have reversed sex roles. The female is larger and more brightly marked, she does the calling and courting, and she defends the territory — while the smaller, plainer male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks.
What is unusual about a button-quail's feet?
Button-quails lack a hind toe, so they have only three forward-facing toes. This is one of several features that separate them from the true quails they resemble.
Why are button-quails so hard to see?
They are small, cryptically patterned, and live in dense low cover, preferring to crouch, run, and hide rather than fly. They usually flush only at the last moment, flying a short distance before dropping back into vegetation.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.