Painted quail and their subspecies are found in India, Sri Lanka, southeast China, Taiwan, Hainan Island, southeast Asia (including Thailand, Myanmar, and Viet Nam), the Phillipines, Nicobar Islands, Sumatra (Butler, 1897; Delacour, 1947; Harper, 1986; Hayes, 1992), Borneo and Sarawak (Smythies, 1981), Java, the Celebes, Lombok, Sumba, Flores, Timor Islands, New Guinea, north to southeastern Australia (Butler, 1897; Delacour, 1947; Harper, 1986; Hayes, 1992), and as far east as Madagascar. They have been introduced into Mauritius and Reunion (Rutgers and Norris, 1970) as well as Guam (Mayr, 1945).

Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); oriental (Introduced , Native ); ethiopian (Introduced , Native ); australian (Native )

These quail are 12.5 cm (Harper, 1986) to 14 cm long (Alderton, 1992) and they weigh 28 to 40 g. The female is larger than the male (Harper, 1986). Wing length is 65 to 78 mm for males and 66 to 67 mm for females. For males, tail length is approximately 25 mm (Johnsgard, 1988). Tail length for females is slightly longer (Pappas, pers. obs.).

The natural color of the male is dark brown with a slate blue-gray breast, dark rust-colored to chestnut-red belly, black throat patch surrounded by a white band and bordered by a black stripe, and black eye stripe (Finn, 1911; Harrison, 1973b). There may be lighter shades of brown evident throughout or within the wing feathers in a mottled pattern. The female does not retain the blue-gray breast, dark rust to chestnut-red belly, or the black markings of the male. She has an overall brown color with rust-brown abdomen and breast. Both males and females have black beaks, yellow to orange-colored legs and feet, and a short, dark brown tail (Finn, 1911; Hachisuka, 1931; Delacour and Mayr, 1946; Harrison, 1965; Dewar, 1979).

In captivity, many color variations have been bred. The most widely known is the silver phase. Other colors include, white (non-albino), varying brown tones, and mottled silver-gray (Hayes, 1992).

Range mass: 28 to 40 g.

Range length: 12.5 to 14 cm.

Sexual Dimorphism: female larger; sexes colored or patterned differently

Painted quail are found in moist regions such as those in wetlands of rank grass (Finn, 1911; Delacour and Mayr, 1946) and rice paddy fields in Lower Myanmar and the Bengal region of India (Finn, 1911) and Borneo (Smythies, 1981). In addition, they have been found up to 1220 m in the highlands of Borneo (Smythies, 1981). They nest on the ground in grasslands that may be bordered by marshes or other wetlands (Finn, 1911).

Range elevation: 1200 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland

Wetlands: marsh

Painted quail mostly eat a variety of grass seeds, including red, white and yellow millet, maw, niger, and rape seeds. They will also eat fresh greens and other vegetation. In limited amounts, they will also consume small worms and insects, including termites, (Yealland, 1962; Smythies, 1981; Harper, 1986). When living in captivity, females require additional calcium in the form of ground up oyster shell or cuttlefish mantle (Pappas, 1996).

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial worms

Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Primary Diet: omnivore

Painted quail have an impact on the vegetation and prey they eay.

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

These quail communicate with many calls between the sexes. One of the most interesting is the tidbitting call whereby the male picks up, for example, a small worm, then offers it to the female, and simultaneously utters short, monotone "peeps." The female will graciously take this tidbit from his beak to eat (Harrison, 1965). On rare occasions, females will perform this tidbitting call for the male (Pappas, 1996).

The mating call occurs when the male displays to the female. He will puff his chest, lower his wings, and dart about in front of a female he wishes to court. His chestnut-red breast feathers are visible (Harrision, 1965). He may make low, soft, clucking sounds (Pappas, pers. obs.).

Both males and females produce loud single-note crowing calls when not in view of each other. They both utter a three-note or four-note crow. The quail will stand upright, beak stretching upward, with a descending-tone sounding like "quee-kee-kee" (Harrison, 1965), "pip-it-kan" or "pip, pit-it-kan" with the last note short in duration and descending in pitch (Smythies, 1981). Only males will produce low, bellowing calls as a prelude to a full-fledged three-note or four-note crow. The quail will crouch, fluff his feathers, lift his wings slightly, and utter a low, hoarse "koraah" while his neck and throat are distended (Harrison, 1965). This call occurs when the female is incubating eggs and the male is frequenting sites at the extent of his territory (Pappas, pers. obs.). The hen and chicks utter faint peeping sounds to each other to keep in contact at all times.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

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

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

The rainy season dictates the breeding season with respect to geographic location for these quail and their subspecies (Johnsgard, 1988).

They nest on the ground in hollows that are lined with grass. Females are prolific egg-layers. Usually, they lay between 6 and 14 (to as many as 21) eggs per clutch. The eggs are approximately 24.5 mm by 19 mm (Harrison, 1973a; Johnsgard, 1988) and weigh around 5 g (Johnsgard, 1988). They are olive green to brown in color with dark brown spots/blotches all over. They are rather large considering the size of the female. Females have a hard time trying to keep the eggs warm. Males do not aid in brooding or rearing the chicks (Harrison, 1973a). Incubation period is from 16 (Alderton, 1992) to 19 days (Robbins, 1973).

Newly hatched chicks are the size of bumble bees, and they are usually brown in color. In captivity, adults of other color phases, such as white, produce yellow-colored chicks. These quail are precocial in nature. After one month, young are mature and will begin mating and laying. At only a couple of weeks old, the chicks begin to crow.

Breeding season: Breeding season is dictated by the rainy season.

Range eggs per season: 6 to 21.

Average eggs per season: 6 to 14.

Range time to hatching: 16 to 19 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 months.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization (Internal )

Males do not aid in brooding or rearing the precocial chicks (Harrison, 1973a). The incubation period is from 16 (Alderton, 1992) to 19 days (Robbins, 1973).

Painted quail engage in egg-rolling. They use their beaks to roll eggs while walking backward. They collect eggs for the nest that have been laid in other places, or move eggs to a safe place if the nest-site becomes unsuitable (Harrison et al., 1965).

Parental Investment: no parental involvement; precocial ; pre-fertilization; pre-hatching/birth (Protecting); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)

This species of quail is not listed by either CITES or the IUCN.

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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

In aviculture, these quail are available for study as well as companionship to the many bird enthusiasts around the world. Documentation on these quail in their natural habitat is scarce, since few people have seen them in the wild. Studies on captive-bred birds have provided information on their food habits, behavior, reproduction, and other aspects of their life history (Hayes, 1992).

These quail provide food for many peoples, including those from the Far East.

Positive Impacts: food ; research and education