Tiny secretive button-quail.
VIC: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Black-Spotted Quail, Black-Backed Quail, Black-Spotted Turnix, Red-Backed Quail, Orange-Breasted Quail
At a glance
FamilyButtonquail
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatTypically inhabits dense wet-grassland habitats.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from October to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Tom Tarrant
Range map
Range map
507visible hotspots
2184visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
This species is very secretive, and most commonly observed exploding from cover and flying rapidly away - look for pale patches on the wings contrasting with a darker back and wing tips. Has a reddish-brown collar, yellow bill and clear black spots extending down from below the eye to the wing.
Behavior
Call is a soft repeated ‘oom-oom-oom-oom’ with the end of each note ascending in pitch.
Gallery
Regional timing
Northern Territory
Queensland
Western Australia
New South Wales
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Red-chested ButtonquailTurnix pyrrhothoraxSmall, dark, secretive buttonquail with pale eye, found in dense grassland habitats, where most commonly observed exploding from cover and flying rapidly away. Adult female has rich rusty-orange chest; male paler, with white chin.→Chestnut-backed ButtonquailTurnix castanotusStreaked buttonquail with very heavy pale bill, found in open woodlands, including stony ridges. When disturbed, this species tends to run away rather than flush. Occurs across parts of northern Kimberley region and top end of the Northern Territory.→Little ButtonquailTurnix veloxIn some years, this species is very common; in others, it can be very scarce. Male has dark speckled markings on chest and flanks; female much more brightly plumaged, usually lacks breast markings.→