Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, and New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae. The buttonquail are not quail at all, are named more for their superficial resemblance to quail, and are members of the Turnicidae family, more closely related to the Charadriiformes. The King Quail, a member of the Old World quail, is often sold in the pet trade; and within this trade is commonly referred to as a "button quail". Many of the common larger species are farm-raised for table food or egg consumption, and are hunted on game farms or in the wild, where they are sometimes artificially stocked to supplement the wild population, or extend into areas they are normally not found naturally.
The collective noun for a group of quail is a covey or bevy.
New World quail may refer to the following species of Odontophoridae:
- Genus Oreortyx
- Mountain Quail, Oreortyx pictus
- Genus Callipepla
- Scaled Quail, (commonly called Blue Quail) Callipepla squamata
- Elegant Quail, Callipepla douglasii
- California Quail, Callipepla californica
- Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii
- Genus Philortyx
- Banded Quail, Philortyx fasciatus
- Genus Colinus
- Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
- Black-throated Bobwhite, Colinus nigrogularis
- Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Colinus leucopogon
- Crested Bobwhite, Colinus cristatus
- Genus Odontophorus
- Marbled Wood Quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
- Spot-winged Wood Quail, Odontophorus capueira
- Black-eared Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanotis
- Rufous-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus erythrops
- Black-fronted Wood Quail, Odontophorus atrifrons
- Chestnut Wood Quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus
- Dark-backed Wood Quail, Odontophorus melanonotus
- Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus speciosus
- Tacarcuna Wood Quail, Odontophorus dialeucos
- Gorgeted Wood Quail, Odontophorus strophium
- Venezuelan Wood Quail, Odontophorus columbianus
- Black-breasted Wood Quail, Odontophorus leucolaemus
- Stripe-faced Wood Quail, Odontophorus balliviani
- Starred Wood Quail, Odontophorus stellatus
- Spotted Wood Quail, Odontophorus guttatus
- Genus Dactylortyx
- Singing Quail, Dactylortyx thoracicus
- Genus Cyrtonyx
- Montezuma Quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae
- Ocellated Quail, Cyrtonyx ocellatus
- Genus Rhynchortyx
- Tawny-faced Quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus
Old World quail may refer to the following species of Phasianidae:
- Genus Coturnix
- Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix
- Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica
- Stubble Quail, Coturnix pectoralis
- †New Zealand Quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae (extinct)
- Rain Quail, Coturnix coromandelica
- Harlequin Quail, Coturnix delegorguei
- †Canary Islands Quail, Coturnix gomerae (fossil)
- Brown Quail, Coturnix ypsilophora
- Blue Quail, Coturnix adansonii
- King Quail, Coturnix chinensis
- Genus Anurophasis
- Snow Mountains Quail, Anurophasis monorthonyx
- Genus Perdicula
- Jungle Bush Quail, Perdicula asiatica
- Rock Bush Quail, Perdicula argoondah
- Painted Bush Quail, Perdicula erythrorhyncha
- Manipur Bush Quail, Perdicula manipurensis
- Genus Ophrysia
- Himalayan Quail, Ophrysia superciliosa (critically endangered/extinct)
Famous quotes containing the word quail:
“A little on the side—very little.”
—A. Edward Sullivan, U.S. screenwriter. Professor Quail (W.C. Fields)
“Kansas City is lost; I am here!”
—A. Edward Sullivan. Professor Quail (W.C. Fields)