Little Buttonquail

1. Females are brighter coloured than males, becoming duller outside the breeding season.

2. In flight, the white flanks and contrasting wing pattern.

3. Listen for its low, booming "oo-ah" or "coo-oo" call, often heard at night.

Females court multiple males who then incubate the eggs and raise the chicks alone. Breeding typically occurs from September to March in southern Australia but can happen anytime after good rains create favourable conditions. They build ground nests \- simple grass-lined scrapes sometimes with hooded entrances, hidden under tussocks or small shrubs.

Little Buttonquails inhabit grasslands and open woodlands across inland Australia, occurring in all mainland states but rarely near coastal areas in the east. Look for them on the ground in dry grasslands, stubble fields, or grassy woodland edges, especially after seasonal rains when food is abundant. Dawn and dusk are prime viewing times. These shy birds prefer to run rather than fly when disturbed. A helpful tip: watch for small movements in the grass and scan areas with short, sparse vegetation where they're easier to spot.