A small ground-dwelling bird that is part of the Old World quail family. They are native to Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of South Asia and are also known as the Blue-breasted quail, Asian Blue quail, and Chinese Painted quail. King quails have become popular birds in aviculture due to their colorful plumage and manageable size.

Males of this species are particularly striking with their vivid coloration. They typically have rich chestnut-brown plumage with a blue-bronze breast and a white face mask, which contrasts with the more cryptically colored females. The females are usually a uniform brown tone, providing them with excellent camouflage against the forest floor where they forage and nest. This dimorphism is common in many bird species, where males are more brightly colored to attract females and compete with other males, while females remain inconspicuous to protect themselves and their nests from predators.

Selective breeding in captivity has led to the development of various color mutations, including silver, gold, and pied varieties. This selective breeding does not only aim for aesthetic purposes but sometimes to study genetics and the inheritance of certain traits.

King quails are ground dwellers, preferring habitats with dense grass or undergrowth where they can find cover from predators. Despite having the ability to fly, they are predominantly terrestrial birds that will take flight only as a last resort to escape danger. Their flight is typically short and erratic, which helps them quickly vanish into dense vegetation.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

2016

Brunei

2016

Cambodia

2016

China

2016

East Timor

2016

Guam

2016

Introduced

India

2016

Indonesia

2016

Laos

2016

Malaysia

2016

Myanmar

2016

Nepal

2016

Papua New Guinea

2016

Philippines

2016

Singapore

2016

Sri Lanka

2016

Taiwan

2016

Thailand

2016

Vietnam

2016