Breeds across Europe into Asia, northern, southern and eastern Africa and Madagascar; winters in much of Africa, India and the eastern Himalayas. The common quail is one of the most secretive of all game birds, and is rarely seen, even by birdwatchers. It lives most of its life hidden deep within dense vegetation. The common quail is found from sea level to altitudes of 3,300′ or more, on level or gently sloping terrain. A bird of open country it favours dense, moist vegetation less than 3′ tall in which it can hide from predators. The common quail usually shuns shrub and woodland habitats, and this secretive bird also avoids bare ground. Sunny areas with light, well-drained soils of chalk, sand or peat are popular haunts. The quail has adapted well to the spread of agriculture. It can be found in large fields of crops, especially winter wheat and clover but also oats, barley, rye, rape, Lucerne, flax and meadow grasses.

Common Quail

The common quail is heavily hunted, particularly along its migration routes, and is in decline across its range. It is also affected by drought, pesticides and changes in farming practices. Shy and wary, the quail spends most of its life among dense cover. Reluctant to fly even when disturbed, it usually goes unnoticed unless flushed from hiding. Startled in this way, a quail springs suddenly into the air, often giving a low trilling call. It flies fast and low before dropping down into cover. After the brief flight, the bird tends to run a safe distance, and effectively melts from view. Despite its reluctance to fly, the common quail makes long annual migrations between its European breeding quarters and wintering grounds to the south of the Sahara in Africa. A In her clutches the common quail’s nest is located in deep cover as its eggs are prized by many predators. The male utters his loud, staccato call in spring and early summer to attract a mate. He is most vocal at dawn and dusk and generally silent once he has found a mate. Depending on the ratio between the sexes in an area, a female may mate with several males. The female quail nests on the ground, in a shallow scrape lined with grass. In southern Europe, the first eggs are laid as early as April, but in the north, egg-laying begins later Clutch size ranges from 7-18 eggs. These are incubated solely by the female for up to three weeks. Clutches of more than 18 are probably laid by more than one female. The striped downy chicks are well developed, leaving the nest within hours of hatching. Their mother may then lay a second clutch. The common quail can be confused with a young gray partridge (Perdix perdix).

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Alex john
Editorial Assistant
Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research