Frankolin quail
| Frankolin quail | ||||||||||
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Jungle Quail ( Perdicula asiatica ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Perdicula | ||||||||||
| Hodgson , 1837 |
The perdicula ( Perdicula ) are a genus of birds of the order Galliformes . The distribution of the genus comprising four species is limited to the Indian subcontinent . Francolin quails colonize steppe and semi-desert habitats in the plains and in the hill country. While the Manipur quail ( Perdicula manipurensis ) is considered endangered (“vulnerable” ) by the IUCN , the remaining three species are not threatened (“least concern”).
description
Frankolin quails are about the size of a quail with a body length of 17 to 20 cm . They differ from the very similar species of the genus Coturnix in their short, quite high beak, the somewhat bristly head plumage and the tail consisting of twelve rather stiff control feathers - in Coturnix there are 8–12 soft feathers. In addition, the legs of two species (jungle and madras quail) are equipped with spur humps. The sexes differ in plumage and slightly in size.
species
- Jungle Quail ( Perdicula asiatica ) - large parts of India, from Kashmir southwards, Sri Lanka
- Madras Quail ( P. argoondah ) - western India
- Great Quail ( P. erythrorhyncha ) - Western Ghats and Northern Eastern Ghats in India
- Manipur quail ( P. manipurensis ) - Brahmaputra lowlands in northeastern India and Bangladesh
literature
- Steve Madge , Phil McGowan : Pheasants, Partridges & Grouse. Helm Identification Guides, London 2002, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 .
- Heinz-Sigurd Raethel: Hühnervögel der Welt , Verlag J. Neumann-Neudamm GmbH & Co. KG, Melsungen 1988, ISBN 3-7888-0440-8
