Photo: SandyCole (mailto:[email protected]) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Buttonquail
Turnix nigricollis
Madagascar Buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
The Madagascar Buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis) is a member of the Turnicidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 61.3 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 nigricollis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.3 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Madagascar Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis) belongs to the Turnicidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madagascar.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 3.4 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 593,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Buttonquail?
The Madagascar Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.3 g.
Where does the Madagascar Buttonquail live?
The Madagascar Buttonquail is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madagascar, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Madagascar Buttonquail belong to?
The Madagascar Buttonquail (Turnix nigricollis) belongs to the Turnicidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Madagascar Buttonquail eat?
The Madagascar Buttonquail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Madagascar Buttonquail migrate?
The Madagascar Buttonquail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar 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 Madagascar Buttonquail make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Buttonquail — 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 Madagascar Buttonquail's range?
The Madagascar Buttonquail has a mapped global range of about 593,000 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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