Asian Blue Quail

About

The world's smallest gamebird (~38 g), family Phasianidae, inhabiting tall grasses and paddy edges across South and Southeast Asia to Australia. Males have sky-blue face and throat with a black-and-white necklace. Feeds on tiny seeds and small invertebrates. Remarkably inconspicuous despite its tiny size. Least Concern.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	13.9 cm	5.5 in
Weight	38.0 g	1.34 oz

Identification

Plumage

Male blue-grey with chestnut-brown sides; white and black patterned throat and face; chestnut flanks. Female brown with buff streaking throughout; lacks blue-grey of male; one of world's smallest quails.

Habitat & Range

🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Resident and nomadic across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines, and south to Australia; inhabits grassland and crops.

Diet & Feeding

Eats small seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in grassland and open scrub of Asia and Australasia.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 16-18 days. Fledging: 28 days.

Clutch Size

4-9

Sound

Song

Very high-pitched, thin 'wee-wee-wee' whistle; tiny quail with soft, subtle voice. Contact calls in covey are quiet, rolling clucks. Alarm is a sharp 'pip'. Often only detected by very thin dawn call.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Galliformes (Gamebirds)
Family	Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges)
Genus	Synoicus
Species	Synoicus chinensis

Distribution

Asian Blue Quail has been recorded in 2 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway 🇹🇼 Taiwan

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Asian Blue Quail eat?

Eats small seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in grassland and open scrub of Asia and Australasia.

Where does the Asian Blue Quail live?

Resident and nomadic across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines, and south to Australia; inhabits grassland and crops.

Is the Asian Blue Quail endangered?

The Asian Blue Quail has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Asian Blue Quail nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 16-18 days. Fledging: 28 days.

What does the Asian Blue Quail sound like?

Very high-pitched, thin 'wee-wee-wee' whistle; tiny quail with soft, subtle voice. Contact calls in covey are quiet, rolling clucks. Alarm is a sharp 'pip'. Often only detected by very thin dawn call.

How big is the Asian Blue Quail?

The Asian Blue Quail has a wingspan of 13.9 cm, weight of 38.0 g.

What order and family does the Asian Blue Quail belong to?

The Asian Blue Quail (Synoicus chinensis) belongs to the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae.