Red-chested Buttonquail
Turnix pyrrhothorax
EndemicStatus
UncommonRarity
Bird Gallery
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Species Description
The Red-chested Buttonquail (Turnix pyrrhothorax) is a small, secretive native Australian bird. This tiny ground-dweller is named for the rich rusty-orange chest of the female. Though rarely seen, its explosive flight when disturbed creates memorable encounters for lucky birdwatchers across Australia.
Fun Facts
Female Red-chested Buttonquails are not just more colourful than males, they're also twice as heavy in some cases.
1. Females have bright rusty-orange chests; males have paler underparts with white chins.
2. The uniformly dark upperparts lack the strong contrast seen in other buttonquails.
3. Listen for the repeated "oom-oom-oom-oom" call, rising in pitch at the end of each note.
Red-chested Buttonquails inhabit dense grasslands across Australia, preferring native grasses with sufficient cover. Look for them on the ground in grasslands, especially at dawn and dusk when they're most active. They're rarely seen until flushed from almost underfoot, making a heart-stopping explosive exit before flying low and dropping quickly back into cover. Their secretive nature makes them challenging to spot, so listen for their distinctive rising "oom-oom" calls during breeding season. Pay particular attention to areas with short, dense grass rather than tall, rank vegetation.
Physical Attributes
Height
14 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds16%
Top Locations
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Top birding locations will be available in a future update.