Common Quail
Coturnix coturnix
Grasslands. Above rufous, mottled and streaked black and white; head with white markings; throat dark; below pale rufous; flanks streaked white.
Francolins, Quails, Spurfowl
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident and visitor. Told by pale underparts in both sexes; in flight difficult to tell from [Harlequin Quail]. The call is a penetrating ‘whit-WHIttit, whit-WHIttit…’ rendered as ‘wet-my-lips’, uttered day or night when breeding. If flushed calls ‘pree-pree-pree’. Usually flushes with reluctance. Occurs in pairs in bushveld, grassland, pastures and cultivated fields.
Quick Facts
Size
18 cm - S
Names
A: Afrikaanse Kwartel
Z: isagwacesjiwayelekile
Ss: Sekweqe
G: Wachtel
Bird Family
Terrestrial birds of mostly gregarious habits (quails excepted). Their crowing or cackling calls are useful identification features. Immatures resemble adults but are usually duller. Quails are nomadic and irruptive, whereas francolins are more sedentary.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs in pairs in bushveld, 'grassland', pastures and cultivated fields.
