Barred Buttonquail

Scientific Name: Turnix suscitator
Malay Name: Puyuh Biasa
Chinese Name: 棕三趾鹑

Range:
Found from Indian subcontinent to South China and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: plumbipes, bengalensis, taigoor, leggei, okinavensis, rostratus, blakistoni, pallescens, thai, atrogularis, suscitator, powelli, rufilatus, haynaldi, fasciatus, nigrescens.

Local Subspecies: atrogularis

Size: 15-17.5 cm

Identification:
Adult birds are distinguished from similar looking female King Quail by bold blackish bars across lower throat, breast and upper flanks and deep rufous-buff belly and vent. Female is bigger than male and has black patch on throat and centre of upper breast. Juvenile resemble male.

Similar looking species: King Quail

Habitat: Dry grassy area and scrub.

Behaviour/Ecology: It is the male that incubates the eggs and care for the young.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Changi, Tuas South, Neo Tiew Lane 2, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat and Pulau Ubin.

Featured articles:

• Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Jun 2022, Aug 2022

Female Barred Buttonquail at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Male Barred Buttonquail at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Male Barred Buttonquail at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Male Barred Buttonquail with chick at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Male Barred Buttonquail at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Alan Ng