Little Button-quail Turnix velox
What do they look like ? Tiny fawn to brown , well-camouflaged birds . They are ground-dwelling , usually seen after flushing explosively from cover when approached . Sometimes seen in small groups running rapidly from cover to cover .
Where do they live ? Wide range of woodlands and open forests where there is moderate ground cover . Prefer areas with a variety of different grass species , leaf litter and log cover .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? Forage on the ground for seeds and small invertebrates such as cockroaches and spiders . Need cover in which to breed , especially fallen timber , moderate grass or shrub cover .
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? Although reasonably common , not often seen except when flushed from grass by vehicles , dogs , horses or humans . Occasionally , a combination of rapid breeding under good conditions and migration into an area after rainfall produces large numbers . They scratch leaf litter like chickens , though out in a circle , creating a rounded depression called a ‘ platelet ’
What management actions affect this species ? Maintain a mosaic of areas of vigorous native grasses as food sources and shelter that they can use and move between from time to time . They may not always be on your property , but if leaf litter , log cover and patchy , native grass cover is maintained , Little Button-quails will use those areas when other areas are in drought , get cleared or are otherwise unsuitable . Overgrazing or wildfire which causes loss of low ground cover over large areas is detrimental to Little Button-quails . The threat from predators like cats and foxes is higher when ground cover is low .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Little Button-quails turn over top soil and leaf litter , which helps soil health , nutrient and water infiltration . As with many seed eaters , they help spread and germinate perennial grass seeds through topsoil disturbance .
Similar species . Painted Button-quail ( Turnix varia ), Red-backed Button-quail ( T . maculosa ) and Red-chested Button-quail ( T . pyrrhothorax ). All are quite difficult to tell apart . True quail , like the Brown Quail ( Coturnix ypsilophora ) also look similar to button-quails .
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