King Quail

King Quail

Scientific Name: Synoicus chinensis

Malay Name: Pikau Biru Asia

Chinese Name: 蓝胸鹑

Alternative Name(s): Blue-breasted Quail

Range: Found from Indian Subcontinent to Southern China, Southeast Asia and Australia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: chinensis, trinkutensis, lineatus, lepidus, victoriae, colletti.

Local Subspecies: chinensis

Size: 13-15 cm

Identification: Male has slaty-blue head, breasts and flanks, blackish throat with enclosed white malar and throat patches, chestnut lower breast to vent and yellowish-orange legs. Female is larger than male and has buff-orange supercilium and brownish overall plumage with distinctive blackish bars on breast and flanks. Juvenile resembles female.

Similar looking species: Barred Buttonquail

Habitat: Dry to slightly marshy grassland and scrub.

Behaviour/Ecology: Skulking and difficult to flush.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat.

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Synoicus chinensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678979A92797212.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

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

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