Science & Technology

Quails can be found on all continents except Antarctica.

Quails are small birds that live all over the world. They spend most of their time on the ground because their stout, plump bodies make it difficult to take long flights. A quail is in the same family as the much larger pheasant and is easily identified by the distinctive plumes on top of its head. Quails are commonly raised in farm settings for their meat and eggs and are popular game birds for hunters.

Ancestry of Quails

Quails are ancestors of the common chicken and date back more than 22 million years ago. Laborers in ancient Egypt relied on quail meat as a sufficient source of protein. They were so reliant on quail meat that the Egyptians created a hieroglyphic symbol for the bird. Additionally, China has bred quails for so many years that it is highly probable the Chinese quail may be the ancestor of many modern breeds.

How They Look and Behave

Quails are overall small birds. However, the different species range in size between 4 and 12 inches tall.  Certain species have a group of feathers atop their head that projects forward, with a male’s plumes being fuller and larger than those of a female. Quail’s heads are small, and their tails are long and square.

They are solitary animals that are difficult to see in the underbrush where they love to hide. They have unusual calls that are often easy to recognize. Males tend to be more vocal in the mornings and evenings and stay relatively quiet during the day. Often, the sounds they make resemble human words, like “Chicago” or “Bob White.” The stout birds love to take dust baths by digging a few inches into loose soil and working the dirt through their feathers.

When startled, quails can take short flights of up to 40 miles per hour. They can also run at surprising speeds of up to 12 miles per hour. Sometimes frightened quails prefer to hunker down in tall woodland grass (one of their preferred habitats) and attempt to remain undetected by potential predators.

Where Quails Live and What They Eat

Quail can be found on every continent in the world aside from Antarctica. They prefer woodlands, forests, and sage lands to make their homes. Some will even utilize agricultural fields to make their dwellings. Of utmost importance for quails is having safe coverage for themselves and their babies from predators and other threats.

Quails’ diet is relatively simple. They prefer small seeds, leaves, grains, flowers, and fruits. They are considered to be carnivorous, but baby quails commonly eat insects. They tend to grow out of that as they get older.

Quail Predators

Quails are abundant throughout the world, so their numbers are not necessarily threatened by the large number of predators they must contend with. Everything from foxes, raccoons, dogs, cats, and coyotes to hawks, owls, rats, and weasels poses a threat to either the quail or its eggs. Humans are also a threat, but typically quails are raised on commercial farms where they are bred regularly.

Once laid, eggs only take about 23 days to hatch, and the traditional lifespan of the bird is between three and five years. A quail hen can lay more than 200 eggs each year, keeping population numbers high all around the world.

1. Quails are ancestors of the common chicken and date back more than 22 million years.
2. Often, the sounds quails make resemble human words, such as “Chicago” or “Bob White.”
3. When startled, quails can take short flights of up to 40 miles per hour, and they can run at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.