Chestnut-backed Buttonquail Turnix castanotus Scientific name definitions

14–20 cm; male 68–70 g (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), female 87–124 g; female larger. Especially closely recalls T. varius and smaller T. velox, but no geographical overlap known with either (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Fairly large, rufous-backed and rufous-winged (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) Turnix with stout , pale brownish-grey bill, orange-yellow eyes  with broad greyish orbital ring, and yellow legs  (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Smaller than Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophorus), which prefers wetter habitats, is overall darker and duller-plumaged, slimmer-billed, more variegated underparts and darker irides (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Unlike Coturnix, present species (and other Turnix) generally runs from perceived danger, but will flush short distance (sometimes whole coveys) if hard-pressed; when moving through open or semi-open area, adopts rocking motion (somewhat akin to that employed by Ortyxelos meiffrenii but unlike Coturnix) which affects entire head and body, swaying backwards and forwards 3–4 times before each step (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female brighter rufous-brown above, with fewer black markings and smaller white spots on wing-coverts; forehead and sides of head blackish spotted and streaked white, white-spotted grey hindneck/upper mantle, darker olive-grey breast and flanks with sharply delineated creamy-white markings (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). In non-breeding season, female is more male-like, having more black in upperparts, with paler whitish sides to head (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Smaller, duller and more heavily patterned than T. olivii. Juvenile unknown, but probably recalls male, albeit duller (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

NE Western Australia (Kimberleys and Dampier Peninsula), N Northern Territory (E to Arnhem Land) and Groote Eylandt and offshore islands.

Generally inhabits forested or wooded areas subject to monsoon climate, mostly where summer rainfall exceeds 800 m, but sometimes recorded in areas with as little as 200 mm seasonal rainfall and found within vine-strewn thickets and small patches of rainforest virtually anywhere within range (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Short grass  in open, dry savanna woodland, sometimes in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) forest (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), often on lightly wooded, stony and litter-strewn hillsides and sandy ridges; occurs from sea-level up to at least 500 m.

Unknown; presumably sedentary (e.g. in Kakadu National Park) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) or locally nomadic, with no evidence of dispersal into other habitats nor seasonal fluctuations.

Little specific information available. Takes seeds (including grass Triodia, Poaceae) and insects (beetles, ants and their eggs). Swallows grit and sand, presumably to assist mechanical breakdown in gizzard, as is probably norm for congeners. Terrestrial  ; nocturnal and crepuscular. Gleans and scratches in litter . Often feeds in groups, being recorded in coveys of up to 20 individuals (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Poorly known, but a low moaning “oom” is presumably the advertising call (heard in Feb, during the apparent breeding season) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Little known. Breeding reported to occur Dec–May, in wet season; eggs recorded Jan. Solitary breeder, but mating system not definitely known (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Nest is depression in grass, at base of shrub or grass clump, often near water; lined with grass and leaves; sometimes domed with side entrance. Usually four white to greenish-white eggs variably marked with brown or black (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) (3–4); incubation reportedly 14–15 days. Chicks rufous-brown with cream dorsal stripes.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Formerly treated as Near Threatened. Population estimated at no more than 100,000 birds (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Density of 0·4 birds/10 ha in Kakadu National Park, but overall considered uncommon in Northern Territory (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and evidence of a decline there since 1970s (2 Franklin, D. C. (1999). Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement. Biological Conservation 90(1):53–68. Close ). Shows cryptic behaviour and inhabits remote areas; seldom encountered by ornithologists, and biology poorly known. Has disappeared from SE extremity of range, around McArthur R, where common in early 20th century (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); possibly threatened by grazing of introduced herbivores and more regular fires, which leads to spread of Sorghum (Poaceae) spp. Research is required on distribution, status, biology and impact of pastoralism and fire.