| Quails | ||||||||||
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Asian Blue Quail | ||||||||||
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| † See also Pheasant Partridge, Grouse |
This article deals with the Old World quail species. The New World quails are not closely related, but are named for their similar appearance and behaviour.
The Old World buttonquails are also in a different family Turnicidae, and are completey unrelated to the true quails.
The quails are small plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters, but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground.
Wild quail were once a popular game bird. The eggs of the quail are considered a delicacy, and are sometimes used raw in sushi. The Common Quail was previously much favoured in French cooking, but quail for the table are now more likely to be domesticated Japanese Quail.
The quail species are:
Genus Coturnix