Photo: Christopher Stephens / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown Quail
Synoicus ypsilophorus
Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) — Gamebirds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 108 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 Galliformes
- Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
- Genus Synoicus
- Species ypsilophorus
Where it lives
Central, eastern Lesser Sundas, northern, eastern New Guinea, Australia (except south-central) and Tasmania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 108 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown Quail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Brown Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family, part of the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU c, e Lesser Sundas, n, e New Guinea, Australia (except sc) and Tasmania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 108 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 3.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown Quail?
The Brown Quail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 108 g.
Where does the Brown Quail live?
The Brown Quail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU c, e Lesser Sundas, n, e New Guinea, Australia (except sc) and Tasmania, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Brown Quail belong to?
The Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Brown Quail eat?
The Brown Quail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Brown Quail migrate?
The Brown Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown Quail 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 Brown Quail make?
1 real field recording of the Brown Quail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown Quail's range?
The Brown Quail has a mapped global range of about 5.7 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.
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