Photo: Cropped by User:Llywelyn2000 / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Buttonquail
Turnix velox
Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) is a member of the Turnicidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 44.3 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 velox
Quick facts
- Weight
- 44.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Buttonquail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Little Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) is a member of the Turnicidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, Tasmania).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 44.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 3.1 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 7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Buttonquail?
The Little Buttonquail is a small bird that weighs around 44.3 g.
Where does the Little Buttonquail live?
The Little Buttonquail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, Tasmania), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Little Buttonquail belong to?
The Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) belongs to the Turnicidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Little Buttonquail eat?
The Little Buttonquail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Little Buttonquail migrate?
The Little Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Little 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 Little Buttonquail make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Buttonquail's range?
The Little Buttonquail has a mapped global range of about 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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