Tuesday, April 23, 2013

>Turnix varius (Painted Buttonquail)

Painted Buttonquail


Painted Buttonquail
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Turniciformes
Family:Turnicidae
Genus:Turnix
Species:T. varius
Binomial name
Turnix varius
(Latham, 1802)
Distribution of the Painted Button quail
Synonyms
  • Turnix varia (Latham, 1802) (lapsus)
  • Turnix novaecaledoniae
The Painted Buttonquail (Turnix varius) is a species of buttonquail, the family Turnicidae, which resemble, but are unrelated to, the quails of Phasianidae. This species is resident in Australia. A subspecies, the Abrolhos Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius scintillans), is endemic to the Houtman Abrolhos islands.


Description

The Painted Buttonquail is about 19–20 cm long. It is found in grassy forests and woodlands. It feeds on insects and seeds, and males incubate the eggs for a fortnight and then care for the young.
The female is the more brightly coloured of the sexes. Her eyes are red, and her crown, face and breast is flecked with white. Her shoulders are chestnut with thin white streaking above them. The male is slightly smaller and duller.

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