Id??

[Mark Clayton <>]

I have banded many Stubble Quail over the years and all have been in open grassland, cereal crops or stubble. I think the bird is a bit small to be a Little button-quail as suggested by Kathy and John but they do occur both in open areas such as I describe above, and in open woodland. Julie, what was the habitat like as Painted Button-quail like dry woodland with a scrubby and grassy understory? Brown Quail are often in the grassy edges of woodland areas. Habitat is one of the better indicators for all the species. Pb-q used to be very common on the lower slopes of Black Mountain; I am not sure of their status now as it is years since I last wandered around that area.

 

Mark

 

From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Monday, 5 December 2016 8:36 PM
To: 'Julie Clark'; 'COG Chatline'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Id??

 

Hi Julie,

 

How about a Stubble Quail? I would have thought statistically somewhat more likely at a place like that.

 

From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Monday, 5 December, 2016 8:02 PM
To: 'Julie Clark'; 'COG Chatline'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Id??

 

Hi Julie,

 

How about a Painted Button-quail? As you say it could also have been a Brown Quail but I think PB-q is more likely.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: Julie Clark
Sent: Monday, 5 December 2016 7:24 PM
To: COG Chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Id??

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm not sure that I have enough information for anyone to be able to assist, but here goes anyway ...

 

At Mulligan's today I had a very brief view of a bird. I was watching something else and as I started to move a bird flew from the ground, no more than a few metres from my feet, hidden by the mid- height grass. It flew very low above the ground and landed on the ground again 50-75 m away, but was lost to my line of sight. All I observed was that the bird was about the size of a starling, appeared dark in colour from the rear, short tail, rapid wing movement and it look stocky in build. It didn't call as it flew.

 

I don't have much idea of what it was. I thought of brown quail, but have never seen one in flight, so don't know if that's a possibility. No photos ...

 

Any suggestions? I was in the middle of the reserve - not very close to any of the dams.

 

Cheers

Julie

--

Julie Clark