quails

Quails are small to mid-sized ground-dwelling birds in the order Galliformes. The term covers several lineages commonly called quails, including Old World quails in various genera within Phasianidae and New World quails in the family Odontophoridae. While both groups share a name and general lifestyle, they are distinct evolutionary lineages within Galliformes.

Typical quails have compact bodies, short wings, and short tails, with cryptic brown or gray plumage that blends with grass and leaf litter. They are primarily ground foragers, feeding on seeds, grains, buds, greens, and small invertebrates.

Quails occupy a range of open to semi-open habitats, including grasslands, scrub, farmland, and woodland edges across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas depending on the species. They are generally shy and quick to flee, relying on concealment and short bursts of flight when threatened.

Reproduction usually involves ground nests where females lay clutches of multiple eggs in a shallow scrape. Eggs hatch into precocial chicks that can forage soon after birth. In many species, incubation is performed by the female, with males providing some protection or escort during the early life of the brood.

Human interactions include hunting as game birds and, in some regions, farming for meat and eggs. The domestic Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is widely kept commercially. Notable wild quail species include the California quail, Gambel’s quail, and the common quail (Coturnix coturnix).

Conservation status varies by species; many quail populations are common or increasing, but habitat loss and overhunting threaten some populations.