Coturnix adansonii

Geographic Range

In Africa, these quail range from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia south to Zambia, Cape Province, and Natal (Rutgers and Norris, 1970; Johnsgard, 1988), then eastward to Kenya (Jackson, 1926). They are absent from the Congo basin and other dry areas (Rutgers and Norris, 1970; Johnsgard, 1988). These quail are considered to be partially migratory (Jackson, 1926; Clancy, 1967).

• Biogeographic Regions
• ethiopian ethiopian
  • native native

Habitat

African blue quail inhabit terrestrial grasslands and cultivated areas (Jackson, 1926) in tropical regions. Specifically, they occur in pairs in lush grasses bordering rivers (Clancy, 1967), wet grassy or marshy areas (Johnsgard, 1988), grassy plains and meadows, and weedy cover in fallow cultivated fields and gardens (Clancy, 1967).

• Habitat Regions
• tropical tropical
• terrestrial terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland

• Wetlands
• marsh marsh

• Other Habitat Features
• agricultural agricultural

Physical Description

African blue quail are 14 to 16.5 cm in length. Wing length for males is 78 to 82 mm and 80 to 84 mm for females. Tail length is 26 to 32 mm and 29 to 31 mm for males and females, respectively (Clancy, 1967; Johnsgard, 1988).

In general, these quail closely resemble Coturnix chinensis , except that the male lacks the chestnut coloring underneath, and the female lacks the heavier black barring on the wing coverts (Johnsgard, 1988). The male has a brown head, cheeks and side of his head (Rutgers and Norris, 1970). A distinctive bluish color is evident when the male is flushed from cover. As with C. chinensis , the female lacks the white and black throat markings, gray underneath, and chestnut coloring on the flanks (Johnsgard, 1988).

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes colored or patterned differently

Reproduction

We do not have information on the mating system for this species at this time.

The breeding season occurs during a prolonged period of time, depending on temperature and rainfall patterns (Johnsgard, 1988). For example, in South Africa, the breeding season is December to April (Jackson, 1926; Johnsgard, 1988), whereas it is from May to July in Uganda (Johnsgard, 1988).

The nest consists of a scrape on the ground in weeds or grass lined with a bit of grass leaves or roots (Clancy, 1967). Clutches are from six (Jackson, 1926) to nine eggs that are olive-green or pale yellowish-brown and are unspotted and rough in texture. The thick-shelled eggs are 24 to 29 mm long by 19 to 21 mm wide (Clancy, 1967). They weigh approximately 4.5 g. Incubation time is 16 days (Johnsgard, 1988).

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
  • internal internal
• oviparous oviparous

Incubation time is 16 days. Chicks are precocial and are cared for by both parents and remain in the family group until they can fly.

• Parental Investment
• no parental involvement
• precocial precocial
• pre-fertilization
• pre-hatching/birth
  • protecting
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • male
    • female

Lifespan/Longevity

We do not have information on the lifespan of this species at this time.

Behavior

African blue quail have fast and direct flight. They are difficult to flush from cover (Clancy, 1967). These quail are not territorial (Johnsgard, 1988) and are considered to be partially migratory (Jackson, 1926; Clancy, 1967).

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• motile motile
• migratory migratory

Home Range

We do not have information on the home range for this species at this time.

Communication and Perception

During the breeding season, the call of the male is a three note piping whistle, where the notes descend in scale. The first note is shrill and the last two notes are softer in tone. When flushed from cover, a squeaky three-note call is uttered (Clancy, 1967).

• Communication Channels
• acoustic acoustic

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

These quail feed on a variety of grass and weed seeds, green vegetation, insects (Jackson, 1926; Johnsgard, 1988), and small land mollusks (Clancy, 1967; Johnsgard, 1988). These quail become fat after extensive eating in preparation for migration (Jackson, 1926).

• Primary Diet
• omnivore omnivore

• Animal Foods
• insects
• mollusks

• Plant Foods
• leaves
• seeds, grains, and nuts

Predation

We do not have information on predation for this species at this time.

Ecosystem Roles

These quail affect the insect and plant popluations they feed on.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

African blue quail provide food for humans in Africa and are sometimes kept in aviaries.

• Positive Impacts
• pet trade pet trade
• food food

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse affects of these quail on humans.

Conservation Status

African blue quail have not been listed by either the IUCN or CITES.

Other Comments

These quail are closely related to Coturnix chinensis (Johnsgard, 1988).

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Alaine Camfield (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Janice Pappas (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Clancy, P. 1967. Gamebirds of Southern Africa . Cape Town: Purnell & Sons Ltd.

Jackson, F. 1926. Notes on the Bame Birds of Kenya and Uganda . London: Williams & Norgate, Ltd.

Johnsgard, P. 1988. The Quails, Partridges, and Francolins of the World . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rutgers, A., K. Norris. 1970. Encyclopedia of Aviculture, Vol. 1 . London: Blandford Press.