GALLIFORMES of Australasia
Galliformes are heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game birds. Most are plump-bodied with thick necks and moderately long legs, and have rounded and rather short wings. They do not fly well if at all, but walk and run instead for transportation. These birds vary greatly in size from 12-120 cm. Many adult males have one to several sharp horny spurs on the back of each leg, which they use for fighting. They can be found worldwide and in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and meadows. Male courtship behavior includes elaborate visual displays of plumage. Gallinaceous birds feed on a variety of plant and animal material, which may include fruits, seeds, leaves, shoots, flowers, tubers, roots, insects, snails, worms, lizards, snakes, small rodents, and eggs. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Old World Quail
Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae
Old World quails are ground living species. They are generally plump, with broad relatively short wings. The legs are short and powerful, and have spurs, unlike the Old World quails, There is generally sexual dimorphism in size, with males tending to be larger than females. Males of the larger species often have brightly colored plumage as well as facial ornamentations such as wattles or crests.
New World Quails and Old World Quails are not closely related, but because of convergent evolution they have similar appearances and behavior.
Genus Coturnix
Quail, Brown Coturnix ypsilophora Found: Australasia
Photographed by: 1) David Cook 2) Aviceda - Dayboro, SE Queensland
3) Peripitus - Granite Island, Victor Harbour, South Australia
New World quails are generally short winged, necked and tailed. The bills are short, slightly curved and serrated. The legs are short and powerful, and lack the spurs of many Old World galliforms. Although they are capable of short bursts of strong flight New World quails prefer to walk, and will run from danger, taking off explosively only as a last resort. Plumage varies from dull to spectacular, and many species have ornamental crests or plumes on the head. There is moderate sexual dichromisim in plumage, with males having brighter plumage. They are shy diurnal birds and generally live on the ground. They are generalists with regards to their diet, taking insects, seeds, vegetation and tubers.
New World Quails and Old World Quails are not closely related, but because of convergent evolution they have similar appearances and behavior.
Genus Callipepla
Quail, California Callipepla californica Found: North America and Central America. Introduced in New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 2, 6, 7) Alan D Wilson - Bella Vista Road, Vernon, British Columbia
6) Dick Daniels - New Zealand
1, 2) Male 3, 4, 5) Female
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