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Painted Button-quail

(Turnix varia)
Size: 17-23 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Painted Button-quails populate mostly the south-east of the Australian continent and the south-western corner of WA (up to about Exmouth). In the south-east they are found in VIC and NSW (except the most arid part of the Darling and Paroo river catchments) and up into central QLD's hill ranges and coastal fringe. Occasionally they disperse into northern QLD, up to about Lakefield National Park. They do not venture into the tropical north or the semi-arid to arid centre.

Painted Button-quails are mostly found in open forest, often with grassy undergrowth.

Sightings

Painted Button-quails, like other quails and button-quails, are secretive birds that are hard to spot. We found one for the first time in September 2008, at Sawn Rocks, about 35 km north-east of Narrabri, NSW. In November 2008 also found at Upper Bullawa Creek, 40 km east of Narrabri.

Photos

Male Painted Button-quail hiding under a dead branch after being disturbed by a group of nature lovers on a spotlighting trip

Female Painted Button-quail running away from the photographer

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.