Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Turnix suscitator
Family: Buttonquail · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 15–17.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Resident in the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Southeast Asia.
Small and rotund. Female with black throat extending to breast, rufous underparts, brown upperparts speckled with black and white, broad black-and-white barring on flanks, robust bill, and pale iris. Female is larger than male, with latter having a white throat and barring across breast. Distinguished from the similar female King Quail by bold black-and-white bars across breast and upper flanks, pale iris, and pale legs (bright yellow for King Quail).
Dry grassy areas and scrub.
Terrestrial, forages on ground for seeds and invertebrates. Males incubate eggs and care for the young alone.