By Janice Pappas
Geographic Range
Rain quail are found in India, Sri Lanka,and Myanmar. (Harper, 1986; Kuz'mina, 1992; Robbins, 1979)
Biogeographic Regions:
oriental 
(native ); australian (native ).
Habitat
(8200 ft)
These quail are found in monsoonal areas (Finn, 1911) and open grasslands (Kuz'mina, 1992). They are terrestrial birds and are adapted to tropical areas (Harper, 1986). They may be found at heights of 2000 to 2500 m in the Himalayas (Johnsgard, 1988; Alderton, 1992). (Alderton, 1992; Finn, 1911; Harper, 1986; Johnsgard, 1988)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland ; mountains .
Physical Description
(5.91 to 6.3 in)
Rain quail are approximately 15 cm (Robbins, 1979; Harper, 1986) to 16 cm (Alderton, 1992) in length. The male's wing and tail measurements are 93 to 96 mm and 29 to 32 mm, respectively. The females' wings are 90 to 97 mm and their tails are 28 to 31 mm (Johnsgard, 1988). Males have black throat markings and their breast feathers are buff with black streaking. The streaking becomes a patch as the bird increases in age (Finn, 1911). Females lack these markings (Harper, 1986). (Alderton, 1992; Harper, 1986; Robbins, 1979)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently.
Reproduction
Rain quail breed yearly
March to October
The pair-bond of rain quail is very strong (Johnsgard, 1988). (Johnsgard, 1988)
Mating systems:
monogamous .
Breeding occurs during the wet season and depends on local rainfall patterns. Generally, rain quail breed from March to October. Their nests are constructed in standing crops or thin grasses in unlined hollows in the ground (Finn, 1911) and are sometimes hidden in scrub, low bush (Johnsgard, 1988), or grass (Alderton, 1992).
Clutch size is usually four to six eggs, occasionally more may be laid (Alderton, 1992). Sometimes more than one female lays eggs in a single nest. The eggs are approximately 27.4 mm by 20.8 mm and weigh 6.5 g (Johnsgard, 1988). Incubation usually lasts 16 (Alderton, 1992) to 17 days (Robbins, 1979), but may last 18 to 19 days (Johnsgard, 1988). The chicks remain with their parents for approximately eight months (Johnsgard, 1988). (Alderton, 1992; Finn, 1911; Johnsgard, 1988; Robbins, 1979)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); oviparous .
Incubation usually lasts 16 (Alderton, 1992) to 17 days (Robbins, 1979), and may last 18 to 19 days (Johnsgard, 1988). Males sometimes become aggressive soon after the chicks hatch (Alderton, 1992). Males have been reported to help females in the care of the brood. Chicks are precocial and remain with their parents for approximately eight months (Johnsgard, 1988). (Alderton, 1992; Johnsgard, 1988; Robbins, 1979)
Parental investment:
no parental involvement; precocial ; pre-fertilization; pre-hatching/birth (protecting); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: male, female).
Lifespan/Longevity
We do not have information on lifespan/longevity for this species at this time.
Behavior
Rain quail are partially migratory, prefering, for example, the monsoon season in India and Myanmar. They shift their residence according to the rain, hence their common name (Finn, 1911). (Finn, 1911)
Home Range
We do not have information on the home range of this species at this time.
Communication and Perception
Males utter a two note call that sounds like "whit-whit" (Finn, 1911). (Finn, 1911)
Communicates with:
acoustic .
Food Habits
Rain quail eat grass and weed seeds as well as small insects and insect larvae (Finn, 1911; Johnsgard, 1988; Alderton, 1992). (Alderton, 1992; Finn, 1911; Johnsgard, 1988)
Primary Diet:
omnivore .
Animal Foods:
insects.
Plant Foods:
seeds, grains, and nuts.
Predation
We do not have information on predation for this species at this time.
Ecosystem Roles
Rain quail have an impact on the plants and insects they eat.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse affects of rain quail on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Sometimes, these quail are kept in aviaries.
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
pet trade .
Conservation Status
Rain quail are not listed by either the IUCN or Cites.
Other Comments
Rain quail are also known as black-breasted quail (Finn, 1911). The earliest account of captive breeding is in England by Seth-Smith (Finn, 1911) in 1903 (Hopkinson, 1926; Alderton, 1992).
Rain quail are closely related to harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei (Johnsgard, 1988). (Alderton, 1992; Finn, 1911; Hopkinson, 1926)
Contributors
Janice Pappas (author), University of Michigan.
Alaine Camfield (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
