Quail
The quail with the scientific name Coturnix coturnix, is a tiny bird that belongs to the partridge and pheasant species. These animals possess a distinctive body shape with long pointed wings and a small, stocky body. Around 200 different quail species are found worldwide. The domestic quails are being kept as poultry birds. These are the plum ground-dwelling birds varying in color from grey-brown to re-brown with fine white-colored streaks and chestnut brown below, black barring above.
They are generally smaller than crows and bigger than robins, but there is a significant difference between these species. They can range from 11 to 12 inches in height and are as small as around 4 inches tall. In addition to it, there is a cluster of around six overlapping feathers on the head plume of quails that look like a single feather. These are the omnivorous birds preferring to feed on the animal-based food such as insects and plant-based food such as leafy, green vegetation and seeds.
The quails live in various countries throughout the world, including East Asia, Russia, South America, Australia, Europe, and other parts of Africa. They are also native to habitats such as croplands, woodlands, and open spaces covered with bushes i.e., farmlands and grasslands. These animal species require a low woody brush, bunch grasses, broadleaf plants, and bare ground to move around quickly.
These are considered the excellent food habitats for quails, providing overhead coverage, protection, warmth, and high-protein seeds, insects, etc. Some of the plants favorite among quail species are Atriplex lentiformis, Heteromeles arbutifolia, lupines, Sambucus, Rhus, Fragaria, Lonicera, ceanothus, ribes, etc.
While these birds are often found walking along the ground, they can establish observation posts, fly shorter distances to escape from various predators, and forage in roosts, low vegetation, and trees at night. There are many exciting and interesting facts about quails, but people still confuse them. There is no need to worry as this blog post has provided facts enough to clear people’s minds, as mentioned below;
Quail facts
Some of the exciting quail facts are as below;
- These bird species are found in most parts of the world, including South America, North America, Southeast Asia, China, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe. They belong to the family Phasianidae. They spend winter in Mozambique, the Nile River Valley, Tanzania, and North-western Africa. The estimated population of quails is around 15,000,000 to 35,000,000. The number of quail are declining greatly though its population size is considerable. This decline in population is due to predation and habitat loss.
- The different quail species are King quail, jungle bus quail, scaled quail, California quail, bobwhite quail, Gambel’s quail, Japanese quail, Blue-breasted quail, mountain quail, etc. Furthermore, the five subspecies include Coturnix Erlangeri from east and northeast Africa, Coturnix Africana from African neighborhood islands, Coturnix conturbans from the Azores, Coturnix from inopinata from Cape Verde, Coturnix from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
- The common quails are solitary birds, foraging alone for food and other purposes. These animal species form a small family, group, or pairs during the mating or breeding season. They prefer to move together in flocks while migrating. In addition to it, the quail birds also live for a specific time, after which death occurs. For example, their average lifespan is only two to three years in the wild and about five to six years in captivity.
- The breeding or mating season of quails varies depending on their location. It is January to February, September to March in Africa, and May to August in Europe during the wet season of places like Kenya. The males arrive near the nesting area first, calling out to females through their mating calls. The male quails perform a courting dance, moving around females in circles and ruffling their body feathers when female birds arrive in their area. The quail’s nest is usually made up of grass. These ground-dwelling birds may have almost three clutches per season. The females lay around 13 eggs, considering their location. The incubation period of these animal species is between 17 and 20 days, and the fledges can fly in eleven days. The newly-born chicks are now ready to become adapt to their environments.
- The quails with a white-tipped crest and scaly markings run with a speed of about 15 miles or 24 kilometers per hour. The females are called hens, while males are called cocks. The fastest running speed of the quail is almost 60kph or 37.2 miles per hour.
- The quails are migratory birds and can travel very long distances around the world. They possess seasonal migration, moving to warmer places during winters. In addition to it, these animal species prefer to move in flocks.
- These species may get active during the day or night. They being solitary birds, usually live alone but spend most of their time in pairs. Although these species can travel long distances, they become motionless on being threatened. One cannot easily find quails; however, their calls might help.
- The quails also use specific calls or sounds to communicate with each other. For instance, they communicate via grunts, cackles, and high-pitched sounds. These sounds possess harmony and beats. The quail species typically hide or run when they face predators. In short, they are not much intelligent birds.
- If we talk about the quail personality, they are chatty and docile, doing well with canaries, budgies, finches, pigeons, and small docile parrots. These are considered little birds with charming personalities.
- Research has shown that quails can be made good pets. They can be an excellent source of healthy meat and eggs. These hardy and healthy birds live an average lifespan of between three and four years. Despite all this, they can be taken care of and fed easily.
- Many animals feed on quails to meet their survival needs like other species on the earth’s surface. For example, the primary quail predators are cats, dogs, skunks, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, weasels, rats, owls, and hawks. Some of these animal species prefer to hunt for quail eggs.
FAQ’s
Sometimes people get confused and raise questions about quail species to clear their minds. Therefore, the answers to some of those questions are as mentioned below;
How long to boil quail eggs?
You have to place the pan on the stovetop, heating it on high. Now bring the water to the rolling boil. Once boiling starts, add the quail eggs. After starting your timer, let the eggs be soft-boiled, medium-boiled, and hard-boiled or heated for almost two minutes, three minutes, or half a minute.
How much is quail meat?
The quail meat is rich in iron and vitamin C; it is healthy for you. Compared to chicken, quail meat provides you with vitamin A. Quail meat also facilitates a higher number of amino acids and minerals than chicken meat. However, the average cost of quail meat is about five to seven dollars per pound.
How quails lay eggs?
The females lay eggs on the nests made up of grass-like hay, and those birds that may free-range love nesting amongst shrubs and grasses. However, the quails o cages do not nest on the ground and have no freedom to roam around. Therefore, they will make nests in their cages, laying eggs there.
How to raise quail?
It is very easy to raise quails. You will require proper feeders, an enclosure, nesting boxes, and waterers if you want these birds to lay eggs either for you to eat or hatch them. A permit from your state department is also required to raise or take care of these tiny, charming birds.
How do you take care of a quail?
There are many easier ways to take care of quails. For example, you should have to work with the younger quail first, then the older, do not feed them moldy food, clean feeders and waterers each day, do not add adult quail to your flock; only eggs or chicks.
Conclusion
Various animals and plants are present worldwide, all possessing unique identification characters discriminating against them. The same is the case with these tiny birds. They possess many features that discriminate against them. They can be made wonderful pets. Despite it, they are very good for health. For instance, quail meat is richer in minerals, amino acids, and Vitamin A and C than chicken meat. It is all enough to make your body healthier day by day. .
Although there are many benefits of quails to human health, they must be taken care of and fed properly. There are many ways to raise these birds, some of which are already explained in this blog post. But you must require a proper permit first from your state department to raise these animal species. People still confuse quails with other animals though their benefits and characters are clear. There is no need to worry as this blog post has provided exciting facts and information enough to clear people’s minds. It will help greatly if you read this article with great care and pay full attention.