Quail
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 Common
Quail
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Genera
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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.
Species list
- Genus
Coturnix
- Callipepla californica, California Quail
- 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
Quails in cookery
Quails include edible game species. The Common Quail was previously much favoured in French cooking, but quail for the table are now more likely to be domesticated Japanese Quail. Quail are commonly eaten complete with the bones, since these are easily chewed and the small size of the bird makes it inconvenient to remove them.
The eggs of quail are considered a delicacy, and are sometimes used raw in sushi.
The Common Quail is also part of the Maltese Cuisine
