By Janice Pappas
Geographic Range
Harlequin quail are found in Kenya, Uganda (Jackson, 1926), east to the Ivory Coast and to south Africa (Clancy, 1967; Alderton, 1992) except for the Congo basin and Namibia (Johnsgard, 1988). They are also found in most of Madagascar (Johnsgard, 1988). (Alderton, 1992; Clancy, 1967; Jackson, 1926; Johnsgard, 1988)
Habitat
These quail are tropical, terrestrial species that inhabit open grasslands (Jackson, 1926; Alderton, 1992). Their habitat, and therefore their distribution is restricted by forested areas (Kuz'mina, 1992). However, these quail will inhabit cultivated areas (Clancy, 1967). (Alderton, 1992; Clancy, 1967; Jackson, 1926; Kuz'mina, 1992)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical 
; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland .
Other:
agricultural .
Physical Description
(2.01 to 2.5 oz; avg. 2.25 oz)
(6.3 to 7.87 in)
Male harlequin quail have a black and white facial mask, black chest edged with rufous-colored feathers, black abdomen, and rufous-colored flanks. Females have a faint black necklace, brown-spotted abdomen, and lightly rufous-colored flanks (Jackson, 1926; Trollope, 1966). These quail range in length from 16 (Alderton, 1992) to 20 cm (Jackson, 1926) and weigh 57 to 71 g. (Alderton, 1992; Jackson, 1926; Trollope, 1966)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently.
Reproduction
These quail breed yearly and may have two or three clutches per year.
October to March
Harlequin quail exhibit what is called tidbitting, whereby the male offers an insect to the female. The male will also raise his wings slightly and chase the female (Trollope, 1966). Males are aggressive toward one another in preparation for the breeding season (Clancy, 1967). The pair-bond between males and females is very strong (Johnsgard, 1988). (Clancy, 1967; Johnsgard, 1988; Trollope, 1966)
Mating systems:
monogamous .
Harlequin quail nest on the ground in a scrape lined with weeds. Usually, the nest is hidden within grassy vegetation (Trollope, 1966; Clancy, 1967).
The hen lays from three (Alderton, 1992) to nine eggs in a clutch (Jackson, 192; Trollope, 1966). The eggs are light buff or cream-colored to olive brown with heavy reddish-brown, dark chestnut, or purple-brown markings and are 27 to 31 mm long by 22 to 25 mm wide (Jackson, 1926; Trollope, 1966). Incubation lasts 17 to 18 days (Clancy, 1967; Alderton, 1992). The hen may lay two to three clutches per season (Alderton, 1992).
In southern Africa, these quail breed from October to March, most breeding occurs in late December to January. Rain is the main factor controlling the breeding season (Clancy, 1967; Alderton, 1992). (Alderton, 1992; Clancy, 1967; Jackson, 1926; Trollope, 1966)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); oviparous .
Chicks are precocial, and are a yellowish-buff color with heavy dark-brown stripes and are reared by the female. They can scratch for food on their own at thirteen days old and will take dust baths at fifteen days old (Trollope, 1966). (Trollope, 1966)
Parental investment:
no parental involvement; precocial ; pre-fertilization; pre-hatching/birth (protecting); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: female).
Lifespan/Longevity
We do not have information on lifespan/longevity for this species at this time.
Behavior
Harlequin quail are migratory at the northern and southern most parts of their range (Clancy, 1967; Johnsgard, 1988; Alderton, 1992). (Alderton, 1992; Clancy, 1967; Johnsgard, 1988)
Home Range
We do not have information on the home range of this species at this time.
Communication and Perception
When isolated from each other, males and females will call to one another. Males utter a loud "whit-whit-wheet, whit-whit wheet-whit," and females answer with "quick-ic" or "queet-ic" (Trollope, 1966). When flushed from hiding, a squeaky "kree" is heard (Clancy, 1967). (Clancy, 1967; Trollope, 1966)
Communicates with:
acoustic .
Food Habits
Harlequin quail eat a variety of weed and grass seeds including mixed millets and maw (Trollope, 1967) and shoots and leaves of plants (Clancy, 1967). They also eat small worms, insects and their larvae (such as white worms, maggots, and mealworms) (Trollope, 1966) and small land mollusks (Clancy, 1967). (Clancy, 1967; Trollope, 1966)
Primary Diet:
carnivore (insectivore , molluscivore ); herbivore (folivore , granivore ); omnivore .
Animal Foods:
insects; mollusks; terrestrial worms.
Plant Foods:
leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts.
Predation
We do not have information on predation for this species at this time.
Ecosystem Roles
Harlequin quail affect both the plants they eat and the prey they feed on.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse affects of harlequin quail on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Harlequin quail consume weed seeds and help prevent growth of unwanted plants.
Conservation Status
Harlequin quail are not listed by either the IUCN or CITES.
Other Comments
Harlequin quail were first bred in captivity by D. Seth-Smith in 1906 in England (Hopkinson, 1926; Trollope, 1966). (Hopkinson, 1926; Trollope, 1966)
For More Information
Find Coturnix delegorguei information at
Contributors
Janice Pappas (author), University of Michigan.
Alaine Camfield (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
