Juvenile Painted Button-quail found dead

[Denis Wilson <>]

Image Warning: Dead bird image follows - for scientific interest.

Before you Canberrans all get excited, this is a record from Kangaloon, in the Southern Highlands, not from Canberra.
The habitat is mixed Scribbly Gum and Stringybark Forest, with grass and Pea Bitter Pea especially) and mixed Proteaceous scrub undergrowth. Sandstone soil substrate.
I have posted this record on my Blog tonight: http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2011/01/painted-button-quail-chick-found-in.html

The reason for posting this here is to show you the close-up of the feet of the Button-quail.
Something one seldom sees up close.

Three toes, as is well known. Note the well developed toe nails and the smooth textured feet - so different from passerines.

But the third image shows the callus on the foot instead of the third toe. This was something I was most interested to observe.
Presumably an evolutionary "left-over".

Cheers
Denis Wilson

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