Red-backed Buttonquail

1. Females have brighter collars and yellow bills than males, becoming duller outside breeding season.

2. The reddish-brown collar and shoulders stand out against darker plumage.

3. When flushed, watch for pale wing patches contrasting with a darker back.

Like other buttonquails, females court multiple males who then incubate the eggs and raise the chicks alone. Breeding occurs from October to June during the wet season. Males construct grass-lined nests with domed entrances hidden in dense vegetation. Their populations fluctuate seasonally, with some birds remaining year-round in wetter areas while others disperse when conditions change.

Red-backed Buttonquails inhabit dense, wet grasslands and sedgelands across northern Australia, particularly in areas with summer rainfall. Look for them on the ground in rank vegetation, often near water or in seasonally flooded areas. Dawn and dusk offer the best chances for spotting these secretive birds. They're most common in the Kimberley region and across the tropical north during the wet season. Rather than trying to spot the birds directly, listen for their soft, repeated "oom-oom-oom" calls, which slightly rise in pitch at the end of each note.