Learn About The Japanese Quail

About the Japanese quail

The Japanese quail (scientific name: Coturnix japonica ) is considered one of the types of Old World quail spread in the regions of East Asia. It was considered a special type of quail in 1983 AD, and it belongs to the pheasant family ( Scientific name: Phasianidae ), and order of Galliformes (scientific name: Galliformes ), Among the most important information that may interest you about the Japanese quail is the following:

Size and appearance of the Japanese quail

Japanese quail are dark brown birds with orange spots on top and light brown spots on the bottom. They also have a white stripe above the eyes on both sides of the head. They have gray-orange to pink legs and beak, and females lack the color. Red on the chest and black markings on the throat.

Some of these birds have white feathers with maroon-red spots on the top, while others have very dark brown feathers with a few spots. There are also some golden-brown species that are bred as quail in captivity .

Homeland of the Japanese quail and where it spreads

This type of bird can be found in the regions of East Asia and Russia, and the countries where it can be found include: India, Japan, Korea and China. It has also been found in parts of the African continent within the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, and Madagascar. And the Nile River Valley region between the countries of Kenya to Egypt. It can also be found in parts of the continent of Europe, Turkey, and central Asia.

It is one of the birds that prefers to live on the ground within areas of dense vegetation for protection from enemies and to escape predation. It generally lives within areas of grassy fields and shrubs along the banks of rivers and agricultural fields planted with crops of oats, rice, and barley.

Diet of Japanese quail

The Japanese quail is considered a carnivorous bird, and its diet consists of 95% plants. It usually feeds on grass seeds, berries, leaves, and roots, in addition to worms and some insects such as grasshoppers and caterpillars. Among the seeds that they can eat are: millet seeds. White, and the amount of food that can be eaten daily ranges between 14-18 grams.

Breeding of Japanese quail

The breeding season for Japanese quail varies depending on its location. In Russia, for example, the breeding season extends from late April and continues until early August, while in Japan, nesting begins from late May and ends in August, and in rare cases some eggs can be found in their nests. In the month of September.

Females lay eggs in the form of one egg every day until they lay a number ranging between 7-14 eggs at a time. The average size of the egg ranges between 29.8 x 21.5 mm, and its mass is about 7.6 grams. The incubation period extends for 19-20 days, and the young become mature. They are able to mate four weeks after the eggs hatch.