Other Scientific Names
Turnix castanota [Collar and Andrew (1988)], Turnix castanota [Collar et al. (1994)], Turnix castanota [BirdLife International (2000)], Turnix castanota [BirdLife International (2004)], Turnix castanota [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail, Thick-billed Quail
North-western and north-central Australia and offshore islands.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 50,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status LC
Habitat destruction through grazing, introduction of noxious weeds, and unfavourable fire regimes may be the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Singly, in twos or coveys of up to twenty.
Food
Seeds of grasses and other plants. Occasionally insects.
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) [XC428475]
by Drew Davison from Sorby Hill, NE of Kununurra, Australia (call)
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) [XC720427]
by id from Mudnunn, Dampier Peninsula, Shire of Broome, Western Australia, Australia (call)
Nest
A depression beneath a tussock or in a clump of grass, usually near water.
Eggs (Guide)
Usually 4; glossy, white, finely speckled with light brown, blotched all over with brown, blue-grey and black; round to pyriform; about 25 x 19 mm. Incubation: 14 - 15 days; by male.
Young
Probably precocial, nidifugous.
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Buff-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix olivii) and Painted Buttonquail (Turnix varius) and sometimes considered conspecific with Buff-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix olivii), but differs in bill size and details of plumage. Invalid subspecies magnifica (north-western Australia), melvillensis (Melville I) and alligator (northern Australia) no longer recognized, because based on individual rather than geographical variation.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) which is slightly smaller, has grey underparts, and the white streaking on the upperparts extends past the rump into the tail, and Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) which has uniformly brown upperparts including the wings, visible in flight.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet