RED-CHESTED BUTTON-QUAIL ON GUNBOWER ISLAND, VICTORIAN RIVERINA.
Lawrie Conole
28/4/1999
On the morning of Tuesday 27 April 1999, I observed a covey of 10-11
Red-chested Button-quail (Turnix pyrrhothorax) in River Red Gum
open-woodland on '86 Break' at Gunbower Island (35°48'21"S
144°20'42"E), near the town of Cohuna in the Riverina area of Victoria.
Also in the same area I saw several smaller groups of Painted
Button-quail (T. varia). The density of button-quail foraging scapes
('platelets') was so great that much of the ground over several hectares
was covered with up to 10 platelets/m2. I've never before seen so many
button-quail in a single location, or such prolific foraging signs.
On a previous visit to this site in February 1999, I saw one pair of
Red-chested Button-quail, and several individual Painted Button-quails.
The density of platelets then was far less than in April.
Some brief notes on the two species - which at times associate with each
other in loose flocks or coveys. The PBQ is clearly a larger and more
robust bird, and apart from the obvious red eye is obviously more
brightly pigmented on the dorsum. In contrast the RCBQ upperparts look
very grey; the pale eye blends somewhat with its dorsal plumage; the
reddish underparts (particularly of the female) are only obvious at
close range, but not so much so at greater distances. In flight the
grey upperparts of the RCBQ contrast markedly with the richer
chestnut-brown of the PBQ. RCBQs sometimes call when flushed, but seem
less willing to fly than PBQ - usually running off into cover, and only
flushing if more closely pushed. The Little Button-quail can be ruled
out as it is a much warmer brown (Pizzey says "pinkish cinnamon"!!)
dorsally, and the female lacks the fine black scalation over head, neck
and shoulders seen in the RCBQ.
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Lawrie Conole
3 Gezireh Street
Pascoe Vale South
Victoria 3044 AUSTRALIA
37°44'27"S 144°56'17"E
Phone (03) 9354 2484; (0419) 588 993
E-mail: <>
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