Black-breasted Buttonquail Turnix melanogaster Scientific name definitions

17–19 cm; male 50–127 g (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ), female 80–159 g (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ); female larger. Fairly large, robust Turnix with relatively slender bill and pale eyes  . Male has predominantly white face and throat, brownish-grey upperparts, which are barred rufous-brown and black with white streaks, and coarsely black-and white-spotted breast (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female has mostly black head , neck and breast, making it unmistakable, with fine white spotting forming weak supercilium  and moustachial stripe, and sparse white barring over breast  ; underparts generally darker ash-grey than male, and central inner wing-coverts are spotted (rather than streaked) with white (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile most similar to adult male, but smaller, has duller brown inner wing-coverts with relatively broader white streaking and hook-shaped black subterminal markings, duller brownish-grey upperparts with heavier black blotching on back and scapulars, and reduced paler streaking (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Male and juvenile similar to those of similar-sized T. varius, from which distinguished by details of plumage (especially whitish face, black-and-white barred breast and generally dark upperparts) and eye colour (paler in present species) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Coastal E Australia in SE Queensland and extreme NE New South Wales; offshore Fraser I.

Principally found in areas experiencing annual rainfall of 770–1200 mm (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Rainforest, other moist forest including low microphyll vine forest (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), vine thicket, dry bottletree Brachychiton rupestris (Malvaceae) scrub (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and grassy edges, with deep leaf litter; also introduced Lantana (Verbenaceae) thickets. Sometimes found in mature (but not young) (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ) Araucaria (Araucariaceae) pine plantations and occasionally closed Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) forest (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ), always provided there is a reasonably luxuriant understorey . Rarely in grass or stubble away from forest (and one radio-tracking study found no evidence of the species using such habitats) (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ). Occurs from sea-level up to 800 m. Breeds within rainforest, warm temperate fern forest with emergent Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ) or under Lantana camara (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ).

Apparently mostly sedentary, with no evidence of seasonal or long-distance movements, though occasional local irruptions, and recent study in SE Queensland, around Ravensbourne National Park, found no evidence of movement between forest patches within agricultural landscape, but that radio-tracked individuals moved widely within the confines of one c. 64-ha patch of forest (4 Smyth, A.K. and Pavey, C.R. (2001). Foraging by the endangered black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) within fragmented rainforest of an agricultural landscape. Biological Conservation. 98: 149–157. Close ). Home ranges estimated at 2·2–6·1 ha, with considerable overlap in area use both within and between the sexes, even during the breeding season (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ). Roosting sites, usually between buttress roots of trees, apparently change nightly (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ). Reluctantly flies in face of perceived danger, and usually only short distance (though exceptionally up to 500 m) (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ), preferring to freeze in response (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ).

Apparently feeds mainly on invertebrates, though seeds, including grain, also reported. In one study, commonest items were: beetles, including weevils; ants; and spiders, probably including a jumping spider (Salticidae) and a brown trapdoor (Arbanitis variabilis) reckoned to measure 1·5–2 cm; other items included centipedes, millipedes and land snail Nitor pudibundus. Terrestrial, feeding both diurnally and nocturnally. Gleans, scratches and pecks at litter; creates characteristic circular feeding scrapes by pivoting on one foot while raking with the other (see Family Text), sometimes reversing direction; individual scrapes may be as close as 50 mm or up to 30 cm apart, with clusters of scrapes usually being 10 m distant from one another (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes shades litter with outstretched wings while scratching. Recorded in coveys of up to seven individuals (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but group size in non-breeding season is more usually c. 4, of which only is female (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ).

Advertising call by female, mainly given in response to heavy rainfall over course of a few days and most frequently when breeding (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ), is a low, tremulous, booming series of 5–7 “oo-oom, oo-oom, oo-oom” notes (inaudible >50 m away) lasting 1·5–2 seconds and repeated as many as 14–21 times, less frequently just 1–4 times (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); one female had apparent territory of 9 ha during calling period and breeding season, but aggressive interactions with neighbouring territory holders is seemingly rare (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ); male gives high-pitched staccato clucking notes in defence of young, but also sometimes in presence of female and while simultaneously forming feeding depressions (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ) (female may utter a soft whistle in response at such times) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Chicks give piping or chirping calls, either in response to danger or to stimulate feeding (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In wild, recorded mainly in Aug–Feb (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) occasionally to Apr, but varies locally, and seemingly linked in some (but not all) locations to the onset of consistent heavy rainfall (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ); all year but mainly Sept–Apr in captivity, if conditions sufficiently warm (and circumstantial evidence suggests this may be true in wild too, at least at those localities where winter temperatures remain higher) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ). Solitary breeder; females sequentially polyandrous (in one case female laid clutches for two different males within 8–10 days) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ); mixed-sex coveys disband at onset of breeding season (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ). Nest (in captivity constructed by female in 24 hours) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) is scrape (100 mm × 60 mm) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ), lined with grass, moss and leaves, variously sited within small buttress root of sapling (e.g. Austromyrtus bidwillii, Myrtaceae) (1 Smith, G.C., Aridis, J. and Lees, N. (1998). Radio-tracking revealed home ranges of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in remnant vine scrub between hoop pine plantation and agriculture. Emu. 98(3): 171–177. Close ), at base of fern or in crevice formed by tree root, alternatively within bracken Pteridium esculentum (Dennstaedtiaceae), rasp fern Doodia aspera (Blechnaceae), Lantana camara or other weedy plants (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ), in captivity (but not in wild) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ) often with grass stems forming hood or even substantial dome with side entrance. Male may temporarily adopt small territory for courtship around eventual nest site, within larger territory of his mate, occasionally calling against ‘rival’ males, but generally males do not come into contact, although their nests may be just c. 250 m apart (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ). Usually 3–5 (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ) pale buffy-white eggs with brown, purplish-grey and black markings (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), laid at 1–2-day intervals (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); incubation 15–16 days in captivity (18–21 days in wild) (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ) commenced when last egg laid (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Incubation and majority of chick-care by male alone. Family groups may amalgamate once chicks become feathered (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Chicks precocial and nidifugous (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), brown with black-and-white dorsal stripes; start to self-feed at 8–11 (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) days, but fed by male for two weeks; attain sexually diagnostic plumage at 8–12 weeks, breeding at 3–5 months (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Potential predators include feral cats (Felis catus), dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes), as well as Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) (4 Smyth, A.K. and Pavey, C.R. (2001). Foraging by the endangered black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) within fragmented rainforest of an agricultural landscape. Biological Conservation. 98: 149–157. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Currently listed as Near Threatened, having been steadily downgraded from Endangered status; despite that population is considered to be still declining, original fears concerning the species’ overall population size, extent of habitat fragmentation and degree of site restriction appear unfounded. Population estimated at 5000 mature individuals within overall range of 5900 km². CITES II. Protected in both New South Wales and Queensland (3 Smyth, A.K. and Young, J. (1996). Observations on the Endangered Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster breeding in the wild. Emu. 96(3): 202–207. Close ). Range and numbers greatly reduced by habitat clearance for agriculture and silviculture (bottletree scrub has been reduced to just a few thousand ha and 90% of such habitat has probably been cleared since European settlement) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), while remaining populations threatened by frequent fire and further habitat clearance, as well as probably by predation, by cats and foxes, and disturbance, especially during periods of drought stress, by cattle, horses, feral pigs and wallabies (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Species now rarely seen despite searches by ornithologists. It survives at much-reduced density, particularly in Dawson and Fitzroy R catchments, and in N New South Wales, with largest subpopulations in Yarraman district and Great Sandy National Park (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). May be adapting to Araucaria cunninghami hoop pine plantations and Lantana, but unknown if these are very suitable for breeding and its ability to persist within fragmented landscapes is probably heavily dependent on the existence of a well-developed scrub layer between forest patches (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Has been suggested that persistence in fragmented, principally agricultural landscapes, with pockets of rainforest and Eucalyptus patches, is unlikely in long-term and even in short- and medium-term the species will probably be confined to largest forest remnants (> 17 ha) with no movement between them (4 Smyth, A.K. and Pavey, C.R. (2001). Foraging by the endangered black-breasted button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) within fragmented rainforest of an agricultural landscape. Biological Conservation. 98: 149–157. Close ). Extensive research required on species, especially in terms of habitat requirements, home range size, breeding biology and post-breeding dispersal, and the impact of forestry and fire; inventory and management of dry rainforest remnants also required. Some of this work has been initiated, including survey of the species and the conservation status of its habitat remnants, as well as research into impact of forestry.