# Quail

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Index of birds with the same name

For other uses, see [Quail (disambiguation)](/source/Quail_(disambiguation)).

Quail Brown quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Superfamily: Phasianoidea Groups included Colinus Callipepla Oreortyx Philortyx Cyrtonyx Rhynchortyx Dactylortyx Odontophorus Ophrysia Perdicula Coturnix Synoicus Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa Numididae Ptilopachus Dendrortyx Rollulinae Lerwa Ithaginis Lophophorini Pucrasia Meleagridini Tetraonini Rhizothera Perdix Phasianini Alectoris Tetraogallus Ammoperdix Margaroperdix Pternistis Galloperdix Tropicoperdix Haematortyx Polyplectron Pavonini Gallini

Call of a male [common quail](/source/Common_quail) (*Coturnix coturnix*)

Quail in Shankipara, [Mymensingh](/source/Mymensingh), [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh)

**Quail** is a collective name for several [genera](/source/Genera) of mid-sized [birds](/source/Bird) generally placed in the order [Galliformes](/source/Galliformes). The [collective noun](/source/Collective_noun) for a group of quail is a [flock](/source/Flock_(birds)), covey,[1] or bevy.[2]

[Old World quail](/source/Old_World_quail) are placed in the family [Phasianidae](/source/Phasianidae), and [New World quail](/source/New_World_quail) are placed in the family [Odontophoridae](/source/Odontophoridae). The species of [buttonquail](/source/Buttonquail) are named for their superficial resemblance to quail, and form the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) Turnicidae in the [order](/source/Order_(biology)) [Charadriiformes](/source/Charadriiformes). The [king quail](/source/King_quail), an Old World quail, often is sold in the pet trade, and within this trade is commonly, though mistakenly, referred to as a "button quail". Many of the common larger species are farm-raised for [table food](/source/Quails_in_cookery) or [egg consumption](/source/Quail_eggs), and are [hunted](/source/Hunting) on game farms or in the wild, where they may be released to supplement the wild population, or extend into areas outside their natural range. In 2007, 40 million quail were produced in the United States.[3]

## New World

- Genus *[Callipepla](/source/Callipepla)* - [Scaled quail](/source/Scaled_quail), (commonly called blue quail) *Callipepla squamata* - [Elegant quail](/source/Elegant_quail), *Callipepla douglasii* - [California quail](/source/California_quail), *Callipepla californica* - [Gambel's quail](/source/Gambel's_quail), *Callipepla gambelii*

- Genus *[Cyrtonyx](/source/Cyrtonyx)* - [Montezuma quail](/source/Montezuma_quail), *Cyrtonyx montezumae* - [Ocellated quail](/source/Ocellated_quail), *Cyrtonyx ocellatus*

- Genus *Dactylortyx* - [Singing quail](/source/Singing_quail), *Dactylortyx thoracicus*

- Genus *Philortyx* - [Banded quail](/source/Banded_quail), *Philortyx fasciatus*

- Genus *[Colinus](/source/Colinus)* - [Northern bobwhite](/source/Bobwhite_quail), *Colinus virginianus* - [Black-throated bobwhite](/source/Black-throated_bobwhite), *Colinus nigrogularis* - [Spot-bellied bobwhite](/source/Spot-bellied_bobwhite), *Colinus leucopogon* - [Crested bobwhite](/source/Crested_bobwhite), *Colinus cristatus*

- Genus *[Odontophorus](/source/Odontophorus)* - [Marbled wood quail](/source/Marbled_wood_quail), *Odontophorus gujanensis* - [Spot-winged wood quail](/source/Spot-winged_wood_quail), *Odontophorus capueira* - [Black-eared wood quail](/source/Black-eared_wood_quail), *Odontophorus melanotis* - [Rufous-fronted wood quail](/source/Rufous-fronted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus erythrops* - [Black-fronted wood quail](/source/Black-fronted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus atrifrons* - [Chestnut wood quail](/source/Chestnut_wood_quail), *Odontophorus hyperythrus* - [Dark-backed wood quail](/source/Dark-backed_wood_quail), *Odontophorus melanonotus* - [Rufous-breasted wood quail](/source/Rufous-breasted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus speciosus* - [Tacarcuna wood quail](/source/Tacarcuna_wood_quail), *Odontophorus dialeucos* - [Gorgeted wood quail](/source/Gorgeted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus strophium* - [Venezuelan wood quail](/source/Venezuelan_wood_quail), *Odontophorus columbianus* - [Black-breasted wood quail](/source/Black-breasted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus leucolaemus* - [Stripe-faced wood quail](/source/Stripe-faced_wood_quail), *Odontophorus balliviani* - [Starred wood quail](/source/Starred_wood_quail), *Odontophorus stellatus* - [Spotted wood quail](/source/Spotted_wood_quail), *Odontophorus guttatus*

- Genus *Oreortyx* - [Mountain quail](/source/Mountain_quail), *Oreortyx pictus*

- Genus *Rhynchortyx* - [Tawny-faced quail](/source/Tawny-faced_quail), *Rhynchortyx cinctus*

## Old World

- Genus *[Coturnix](/source/Coturnix)* - [Common quail](/source/Common_quail) (also called Pharaoh, Bible, European or Nile quail), *Coturnix coturnix*[4] - [Japanese quail](/source/Japanese_quail), *Coturnix japonica* - [Stubble quail](/source/Stubble_quail), *Coturnix pectoralis* - †[New Zealand quail](/source/New_Zealand_quail), *Coturnix novaezelandiae* (extinct) - [Rain quail](/source/Rain_quail), *Coturnix coromandelica* - [Harlequin quail](/source/Harlequin_quail), *Coturnix delegorguei* - †[Canary Islands quail](/source/Canary_Islands_quail), *Coturnix gomerae* (fossil) - †[Madeira](/source/Madeira) quail, *[Coturnix lignorum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coturnix_lignorum&action=edit&redlink=1)*, (fossil) - †[Porto Santo](/source/Porto_Santo) quail, *[Coturnix alabrevis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coturnix_alabrevis&action=edit&redlink=1)*, (fossil) - †[Cape Verde quail](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cape_Verde_quail&action=edit&redlink=1), *Coturnix centensis*, (fossil)

- Genus *[Synoicus](/source/Synoicus)* - [Brown quail](/source/Brown_quail), *Synoicus ypsilophorus* - [Blue quail](/source/Blue_quail), *Synoicus adansonii* - [King quail](/source/King_quail), *Synoicus chinensis* - [Snow Mountain quail](/source/Snow_Mountain_quail), *Synoicus monorthonyx*

- Genus *[Perdicula](/source/Perdicula)* - [Jungle bush quail](/source/Jungle_bush_quail), *Perdicula asiatica* - [Rock bush quail](/source/Rock_bush_quail), *Perdicula argoondah* - [Painted bush quail](/source/Painted_bush_quail), *Perdicula erythrorhyncha* - [Manipur bush quail](/source/Manipur_bush_quail), *Perdicula manipurensis*

- Genus *[Ophrysia](/source/Ophrysia)* - [Himalayan quail](/source/Himalayan_quail), *Ophrysia superciliosa* (critically endangered/extinct)

## In culture and religion

- Quails were depicted in ancient Egyptian paintings, the quail drawing in hieroglyphics is equal to the letter "O"[5]

- In the letter of Shepsi to his mother, one of the Egyptian [letters to the dead](/source/Letters_to_the_dead), he wrote reminding her of all the good deeds he performed during her lifetime. Saying "… you said to me, your son, 'you shall bring me some quails that I may eat them' and I, your son, then brought you seven quails and you ate them …"

- Quails were mentioned in the Hebrew Bible several times, for example: in Exodus (16:13–15) "That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning, there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, 'It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.'" Psalm (78:30–31) mentioned that many Israelites died after eating quail mentioning "But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths, God's anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them".

- In the [Quran](/source/Quran) in surah taha verse 80 "O Children of Israel! We saved you from your enemy, and made an appointment with you on the right side of Mount Ṭûr, and sent down to you manna and quails".[6]

- In [Naguib Mahfouz](/source/Naguib_Mahfouz)'s novel *[Autumn Quail](/source/Autumn_Quail)* (1962) the quail is used as an [allegory](/source/Allegory) for the fleeting happiness of the protagonist

- The neighbourhood near the [Giza pyramid complex](/source/Giza_pyramid_complex) that includes the horse stables and tourist gift shops is called "Nazlet el Semman" which means "Quails landing" it got that name because quail birds would descend to the area during their seasonal migration[7][8]

## Quail in cookery

Main article: [Quail as food](/source/Quail_as_food)

Quail meat can be toxic with symptoms similar to [rhabdomyolysis](/source/Rhabdomyolysis) after consumption. This is referred to as [coturnism](/source/Coturnism).[9] The toxicity of quail meat is limited to certain geographic regions and the migration direction of the quails and the mechanism for making the meat poisonous is unclear.[10][11]

## See also

- [Birds portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Birds)

- [Quail eggs](/source/Quail_eggs)

- [Domesticated quail](/source/Domesticated_quail)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [USGS - Animal Congregations, or What Do You Call a Group](https://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150320071411/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm) March 20, 2015, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "[Bevy](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bevy)", *Merriam-Webster.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*2007 Census of Agriculture: United States Summary and State Data Volume 1 • Geographic Area Series • Part 51 AC-07-A-51*](https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132158/https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/usv1.pdf) (PDF). [USDA](/source/USDA). February 2009. p. 423. Archived from [the original](https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/usv1.pdf) (PDF) on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Japanese Quail - Lancaster County 4-H (japanesequail) - Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County - University of Nebraska–Lincoln"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171107002915/https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/embryology/japanesequail.shtml). *lancaster.unl.edu*. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Web Developer Network. Archived from [the original](https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/embryology/japanesequail.shtml) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["History of Quails | About Quail | Quails | Guide | Omlet UK"](https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/quails/about_quail/history/). *www.omlet.co.uk*. Retrieved 14 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Halim, Sarah Maher (2022). ["A Comparative Study Between the Representation of Quails in Ancient Egyptian and Byzantine Art"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230605102949/https://cguaa.journals.ekb.eg/article_246947_9b6a87f9318c6a0480b9fdea8ba672d5.pdf) (PDF). *Annal Of General Union of Arab Archaeologists* (25). Archived from [the original](https://cguaa.journals.ekb.eg/article_246947_9b6a87f9318c6a0480b9fdea8ba672d5.pdf) (PDF) on 5 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The stables of Nazlet El-Semman - Dailynewsegypt"](https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/01/21/the-stables-of-nazlet-el-semman/). *www.dailynewsegypt.com*. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["نزلة السمان بالجيزة، حكاية إنشائها وسبب التسمية"](https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.vetogate.com/5209619). *translate.google.com*. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid153139882_9-0)** Tsironi M, Andriopoulos P, Xamodraka E, et al. (2004). ["The patient with rhabdomyolysis: have you considered quail poisoning?"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC509041). *CMAJ*. **171** (4): 325–6. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1503/cmaj.1031256](https://doi.org/10.1503%2Fcmaj.1031256). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [509041](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC509041). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15313988](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15313988).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_10-0)** Lewis, David C.; Metallinos-Katzaras, Elizabeth; Grivetti, Louis E. (1987). ["Coturnism: Human Poisoning By European Migratory Quail"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08873638709478507). *Journal of Cultural Geography*. **7** (2): 51–65.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:1_11-0)** Ligabue-Braun, Rodrigo; Carlini, Célia Regina (1 June 2015). ["Poisonous birds: A timely review"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041010115000884). *Toxicon*. **99**: 102–108. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.03.020](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.toxicon.2015.03.020). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0041-0101](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0041-0101).

## External links

Look up ***[quail](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quail)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- ["Quail"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Quail). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)* (11th ed.). 1911.

- ["Quail"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%C3%A6dia/Quail). *[New International Encyclopedia](/source/New_International_Encyclopedia)*. 1905.

Index of animals with the same common name
This page is an index of articles on animal species (or higher taxonomic groups) with the same [common name](/source/Common_name) ([vernacular](/source/Vernacular) name).  If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Quail) led you here, you may wish to edit the linking article so that it links directly to the intended article.

Authority control databases: National United States Czech Republic Israel

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