Barred Buttonquail

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: Jurong Lake Gardens, Lorong Halus, Tuas South, Punggol.

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Male Barred Buttonquail at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo credit: Jared Tan
Female Barred Buttonquail at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female Barred Buttonquail at Jurong Lake Gardens. Photo credit: Jared Tan
Juvenile Barred Buttonquail at Jurong Lake Gardens. Photo credit: Jared Tan
Male Barred Buttonquail at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Barred Buttonquail at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Barred Buttonquail)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Turnix suscitator. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680549A92865610.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Barred Buttonquail. Retrieved on July 19, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/barred-buttonquail.

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