Photo: Broinowski, Gracius J. / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail
Turnix castanotus
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) is a member of the Turnicidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 82.7 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 castanotus
Where it lives
Northern WA, Top End and satellites (northern NT; north-central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 82.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) is a species of bird in the Turnicidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU n WA, Top End and satellites (n NT; nc Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 82.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 3.2 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 433,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 82.7 g.
Where does the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail live?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU n WA, Top End and satellites (n NT; nc Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail belong to?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) belongs to the Turnicidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail eat?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail migrate?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chestnut-backed 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.
What sound does the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chestnut-backed Buttonquail's range?
The Chestnut-backed Buttonquail has a mapped global range of about 433,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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