Clutches of more than 18 are probably laid by more than one female. These are incubated solely by the female for up to three weeks. In southern Europe, the first eggs are laid as early as April, but in the north, egg-laying begins later Clutch size ranges from 7-18 eggs. The female quail nests on the ground, in a shallow scrape lined with grass. Depending on the ratio between the sexes in an area, a female may mate with several males. He is most vocal at dawn and dusk and generally silent once he has found a mate. The male utters his loud, staccato call in spring and early summer to attract a mate. BREEDINGĪ In her clutches The common quail’s nest is located in deep cover as its eggs are prized by many predators. The quail is Europe’s only migratory gamebird. Other traditional common names for this bird include quailzie, throsher, deadchick and rine. The name quail can be traced back to the Latin quaquila, which probably imitated the male’s distinctive call.Īcross England, the quail has many quaint old local names, such as wet-my-lips, wet-my-feet and but-for-but. Sometimes it catches flies, ants and other flying insects by fluttering up to 3′ above the ground. Whether pecking at wind-scattered seeds or invertebrates, the quail feeds mainly on the ground. The chicks probably bulk up on high-protein insects, too. Staple foods include seeds of grasses, cereals and weeds, but the quail also eats beetles, bugs, ants, earwigs and grasshoppers, as well as spiders, snails and worms.Īnimal food is important in spring and early summer, when seeds are scarce and females need as much protein as possible to prepare for breeding. More than 100 species of food plant have been recorded in the quail’s diet. Quake and quail one of the wariest of birds, the quail normally stays hidden in undergrowth. After the brief flight, the bird tends to run a safe distance, and effectively melts from view.ĭespite its reluctance to fly, the common quail makes long annual migrations between its European breeding quarters and wintering grounds to the south of the Sahara in Africa. It flies fast and low before dropping down into cover. Startled in this way, a quail springs suddenly into the air, often giving a low trilling call. Reluctant to fly even when disturbed, it usually goes unnoticed unless flushed from hiding. Shy and wary, the quail spends most of its life among dense cover. It is also affected by drought, pesticides and changes in farming practices. The common quail is heavily hunted, particularly along its migration routes, and is in decline across its range. FOOD & FEEDINGĪ Bark if you’re hungry Old timber is a source of invertebrate prey. It can be found in large fields of crops, especially winter wheat and clover but also oats, barley, rye, rape, lucerne, flax and meadow grasses.Ī Green and pleasant Areas with dense vegetation are popular quail breeding sites. The quail has adapted well to the spread of agriculture. Sunny areas with light, well-drained soils of chalk, sand or peat are popular haunts. The common quail usually shuns shrub and woodland habitats, and this secretive bird also avoids bare ground. A bird of open country it favors dense, moist vegetation less than 3′ tall in which it can hide from predators. The common quail is found from sea level to altitudes of 3,300′ or more, on level or gently sloping terrain.
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