Common Quail
317350
211261188
2008-05-09T14:21:54Z
92.3.36.5
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{{Taxobox
| name = Common Quail
| status = LC
| status_ref =<ref name= IUCN>{{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=47044|title=Coturnix coturnix|downloaded=6 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern</ref>
| image = quail32.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Aves]]
| ordo = [[Galliformes]]
| familia = [[Phasianidae]]
| genus = ''[[Coturnix]]''
| species = '''''C. coturnix'''''
| binomial = ''Coturnix coturnix''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)
}}
The '''Common Quail''', ''Coturnix coturnix'', is from the pheasant family [[Phasianidae]] of the order [[Galliformes]], gallinaceous birds. This species was first described by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in his ''Systema naturae'' in 1758 as ''Tetrao coturnix''.<ref>{{la icon}} {{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C | authorlink=Carolus Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. | publisher=Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). | date=1758| quote =T. pedibus nudis, corpore griseo-maculate, supercilií albis, rectricibus margine lunulaque ferruginea.|pages=161}}</ref>
Upon attaining an age of 6-8 weeks, this [[quail]] breeds on open [[arable land|arable farmland]] and [[grassland]] across most of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], laying 6-18 [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s in a ground nest. The eggs take from 16-18 days to [[hatch]]. It is a strongly [[bird migration|migratory]] [[Aves|bird]], unlike most of the [[gamebird]]s, and winters in [[Africa]].
It is a small (17 cm) rotund bird, essentially streaked brown with a white eyestripe, and, in the male, a black chin. As befits its migratory nature, it has long wings, unlike most typically short-winged gamebirds.
This is a terrestrial species, feeding on [[seed]]s and [[insect]]s on the ground. It is notoriously difficult to see, keeping hidden in crops, and reluctant to fly, preferring to creep away instead. Even when flushed, it keeps low and soon drops back into cover. Often the only indication of its presence is the distinctive "wet-my-lips" repetitive song of the male. The call is uttered mostly in the mornings, evenings and sometimes at night.
It is heavily hunted as [[game (food)|game]] on passage through the [[Mediterranean]] area.
This species over recent years has seen an increase in its [[biological reproduction|propagation]] in the [[United States]] and [[Europe]], however most of this increase is with [[hobbyists]].
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Weibliche Wachtel (Coturnix coturnix).jpg|Female Common Quail
Image:Coturnix coturnix eggs.jpg|Common Quail eggs
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Quails in cookery]]
{{Commons|Coturnix coturnix}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/photos/caille.des.bles.html Oiseaux] Photos
* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/144_QuailCcoturnix.pdf Identification guide (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]
[[Category:Coturnix]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of Asia]]
[[Category:Birds of Turkey]]
[[Category:Birds of Pakistan]]
[[ay:Khullu]]
[[be:Перапёлка]]
[[be-x-old:Перапёлка]]
[[bg:Пъдпъдък]]
[[ca:Guatlla]]
[[cs:Křepelka polní]]
[[co:Quaglia (spezia)]]
[[de:Wachtel (Art)]]
[[es:Coturnix Coturnix]]
[[fr:Caille des blés]]
[[io:Qualio]]
[[it:Coturnix coturnix]]
[[he:שליו נודד]]
[[lt:Putpelė]]
[[hu:Fürj]]
[[mk:Препелица]]
[[nah:Zōlli]]
[[nl:Kwartel]]
[[ja:ヨーロッパウズラ]]
[[no:Vaktel]]
[[pms:Coturnix coturnix]]
[[pl:Przepiórka]]
[[pt:Codorna]]
[[rm:Quacra]]
[[ru:Перепел]]
[[sk:Prepelica poľná]]
[[fi:Viiriäinen]]
[[sv:Vaktel]]
[[tr:Bıldırcın]]
[[zh:鹌鹑]]