Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Buttonquail
Turnix sylvaticus
Common Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) is a member of the Turnicidae family found in Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 52.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Turnicidae Buttonquail
- Genus Turnix
- Species sylvaticus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) is a member of the Turnicidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF, OR widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Buttonquail?
The Common Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.7 g.
Where does the Common Buttonquail live?
The Common Buttonquail is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, AF, OR widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Common Buttonquail belong to?
The Common Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus) belongs to the Turnicidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Common Buttonquail eat?
The Common Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Buttonquail migrate?
The Common Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common Buttonquail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Common Buttonquail's range?
The Common Buttonquail has a mapped global range of about 17.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Turnicidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
More in Shorebirds
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated