Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-breasted Buttonquail
Turnix melanogaster
Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster) — 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 Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster) is a member of the Turnicidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 87.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Turnicidae Buttonquail
- Genus Turnix
- Species melanogaster
Quick facts
- Weight
- 87.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster) is a species of bird in the Turnicidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se QLD (ec Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 87.1 g, with a wing length of about 10.4 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5,949 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-breasted Buttonquail?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 87.1 g.
Where does the Black-breasted Buttonquail live?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se QLD (ec Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-breasted Buttonquail belong to?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster) belongs to the Turnicidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black-breasted Buttonquail eat?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-breasted Buttonquail migrate?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-breasted Buttonquail endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
How large is the Black-breasted Buttonquail's range?
The Black-breasted Buttonquail has a mapped global range of about 5,949 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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