Brown Quail

1. Plump, rounded body with intricately patterned brown and rufous plumage

2. Fine pale shaft streaks and chevron-shaped barring, especially on underparts

3. Explosive, low flight with whirring wings when disturbed

Brown Quail feed mainly on seeds from grasses and herbs, as well as leaves, insects, and occasionally small invertebrates. They are largely sedentary but can move in response to rainfall and changing habitat conditions. Breeding usually occurs from August to January in southern regions, and later in the north or year-round in favourable conditions. Females build a well-hidden nest scrape in dense vegetation, laying 7–12 eggs (sometimes more), which she incubates for about 21–23 days. Both parents care for the downy, precocial chicks, with males often taking over brood care if the female begins a new clutch. Brown Quail can raise multiple broods in a good season. The species has adapts well and has established populations outside its native range, including New Zealand and Fiji.

Brown Quail are found in a wide range of habitats, including wet grasslands, swampy meadows, coastal scrub, and agricultural areas across much of Australia, as well as Tasmania, New Guinea, and introduced populations in New Zealand and Fiji. They favour areas with dense ground cover for protection, usually near water or in moist environments, but can appear far inland after good rains. Most often seen at dawn and dusk, they are typically encountered when flushed from underfoot or heard calling with their distinctive two-note rising whistle. Brown Quail are gregarious outside the breeding season, often moving in small coveys.

In some Aboriginal Australian cultures, the Brown Quail holds ceremonial or dietary significance, especially to the Kuninjku people.