Earth quail
| Earth quail | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Female black-breasted quail ( Coturnix pectoralis ) |
||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||
|
||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Coturnix | ||||||||
| Bonnaterre , 1791 |
Coturnix ( Coturnix ) are a bird genus from the family of pheasant-like (Phasianidae) used to order the chicken birds heard (Galliformes).
The genus includes 8 species , of which the New Zealand black-breasted quail ( Coturnix novaezelandiae ) was exterminated in the 19th century and the Canary Quail ( C. gomerae ) is a sub-fossil species.
In addition to their small size, earth quail are generally round in shape and have a very short tail covered by long wings.
The featherless legs are spurless, the beaks are short and small.
species
- Earth quail ( Coturnix )
- Quail ( C. coturnix )
- Japanese quail ( C. japonica )
- Black breasted quail ( C. pectoralis )
- † New Zealand black-breasted quail ( C. novaezelandiae )
- Rain quail ( C. coromandelica )
- Harlequin Quail ( C. delegorguei )
- Ypsilon quail ( C. ypsilophora )
- † Canary Quail ( C. gomerae )
The two species, African dwarf quail and dwarf quail , are now assigned to the genus Excalfactoria .
Quail and human
Quails are popular as pet birds. In addition, both their eggs and their meat are considered delicacies. Special breeds have been and are bred for both purposes. z. B. Japanese quail and Euro quail. Quails are popular as pets because they take up very little space and are quieter than other chicken birds. They can become trusting if you keep them in a species-appropriate way and spend enough time. While quails can live to be around two years old in the wild, they can live up to five years old if properly cared for. In addition to maize, industrially produced quail feed contains numerous other seeds such as millet or poppy seeds as the main ingredient. In addition, it is recommended to give them greens and insects as food.
In some areas quail used to be kept in specially designed quail houses .
literature
- Heinz-Sigurd Raethel : quail, partridge, stone fowl, francoline and relatives. Reutlingen publishing house, Reutlingen 1996, ISBN 3-88627-155-2 .
- Friedel Bernhardt, Armin Kühne: Quail. Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 3-8001-4950-8 .
