Photo: Herbert Goodchild / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Game Birds

Stubble Quail

Coturnix pectoralis

Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) — Gamebirds of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Australia Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Queensland Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Victoria

See what's near you right now

The Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 102 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
Genus Coturnix
Species pectoralis

Where it lives

Australia (except northern)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 102 g
Diet: Seed-eaters
Family: Phasianidae
Order: Galliformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Japanese Quail

Coturnix japonica

Least Concern

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Least Concern

Brown Quail

Synoicus ypsilophorus

Least Concern

Common Quail

Coturnix coturnix

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Stubble 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 Stubble Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 102 g, with a wing length of about 10 cm and a tail of around 3.3 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 6.3 million km².

Songs & calls

Stubble Quail — Song

Recorded by Marc Anderson Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Stubble Quail?

The Stubble Quail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 102 g.

Where does the Stubble Quail live?

The Stubble Quail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Stubble Quail belong to?

The Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the Stubble Quail eat?

The Stubble Quail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Does the Stubble Quail migrate?

The Stubble Quail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Stubble 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 Stubble Quail make?

1 real field recording of the Stubble 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 Stubble Quail's range?

The Stubble Quail has a mapped global range of about 6.3 million km².