Japanese Quail

The Japanese Quail is a small, compact ground bird patterned in brown, buff and black. Its streaked plumage hides it effectively among grasses, and the sexes are similar at a glance, although males show warmer facial and breast colouring. It closely resembles the Common Quail, but their calls differ. Wild birds retain the slim, cryptic appearance that can be obscured in the many colour forms developed through domestication (Wikipedia, general species account).

Wild Japanese Quail use steppes, meadows and other open grassy habitats across eastern Asia, and some populations migrate. They feed chiefly on grass seeds while also taking small insects and other invertebrates. Incubation begins after the final egg is laid and averages about 16.5 days. The species has a long history of domestication in Japan, but Japan's wild population is listed as Vulnerable nationally (Wikipedia, general species account; Japan MOE 5th Red List 2026).