Blue-breasted Quail

1. Australia’s smallest quail, noticeably tinier than other quail species

2. Males have a slate-blue head and breast with a chestnut belly

3. Both sexes have a rounded body, short tail, and quick, low flight when flushed

King Quail are omnivorous, feeding on grass seeds, green shoots, insects, worms, and occasionally small fruits and grains. They typically move in small family groups or coveys, foraging quietly on the ground. During breeding, females build well-hidden nests in dense vegetation, laying 4–7 eggs which they incubate alone for about 16–18 days, while the male stands guard nearby. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching, able to follow their parents and feed themselves. King Quail reach breeding age quickly, sometimes within three months.

King Quail are found in dense, low vegetation such as wet heathlands, swampy grasslands, sedge beds, and the edges of crops across northern and eastern Australia, including Queensland, the Northern Territory, and parts of Victoria (mainly French Island). They are most active at dawn and dusk, often detected only when flushed from cover by their sudden, low flight. The species relies on dense ground cover and is most often found in areas with thick grasses and sedges, especially after good rains have promoted lush growth.