| Hi Dennis,
I have bred (in captivity) King Quails before, and though their links to the button quails are very few, I have seen that bump on the foot before. It turned out to e=be different things in different birds. In one case it was a parasite burrowing in the foot (this was successfully and painlessly removed) and in another case it was a bruise from flying into a bush when frightened.
I'm not sure about this button quail but I would imagine it is one of the above.
Cheers, Julian On 28/01/2011, at 2:44 AM, Denis Wilson wrote: 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
<Painted Button Quail - chick, dead (2) - web.JPG><Painted Button Quail - chick, dead - foot web.JPG><Painted Button Quail - chick, dead Foot detail - web.JPG>*******************************************************************************************************
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