Fun Jungle Bush Quail Facts For Kids
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The jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiaticus) belongs to the Perdicula genus and is a small bird species endemic to countries of South Asia. Jungle bush quails are identified by their chestnut-brown colored wings on a pale brown base.
Their heads have red and white stripes and male birds have undersides that are barred with white. They point their heads downwards during flight to more effectively search for their prey.
Their most suitable place of stay is in dry, savanna-like grasslands in most states of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
Bush quail, the jungle bird species, lay five to six eggs that are incubated by the mother for 16-18 days. Although presently they are listed as a species of Least Concern, their status may change if the practice of selling these quails and their eggs remains unchecked.
Want to know more about jungle bush quails of India and other South Asian countries? Read on for more intriguing information.
You can also explore other exciting facts on our leghorn chicken and mountain chickadee fact pages.
Jungle Bush Quail Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a jungle bush quail?
The jungle bush quail is a bird species endemic to countries of South Asia.
What class of animal does a jungle bush quail belong to?
The jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica) is a bird species, hence it belongs to the Aves class.
How many jungle bush quails are there in the world?
At present the exact population size of the bush quail in the jungle is unknown.
Where does a jungle bush quail live?
This bird species is native to countries of South Asia and is mainly seen in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It is also found in parts of Nepal during warmer months.
What is a jungle bush quail's habitat?
The common range of habitat of this small bird species includes the tropical savanna grassland, deciduous forest, open scrubland, scrub, and thorny woodland. However, it is hard to spot one without a proper search as they camouflage well into dry grasslands in small coveys and on top of woody trees.
Who do jungle bush quails live with?
These birds prefer a group life over solitude. They are seen to live in coveys of 6-25, mainly in dry grasslands.
How long does a jungle bush quail live?
The exact length of their lifespan is unknown.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season starts in post-monsoon weather and extends until the end of winter. After mating, the female lays five to six eggs and keeps them on top of the nest for incubation.
During this time, the entire family of the bird stays on or near the nest. The incubation period ranges between 16-18 days, after which the eggs hatch. Chicks are cared for by both parents until they mature and take their first flight.
What is their conservation status?
At present, the jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica) is a bird species of Least Concern, as listed in the IUCN Red Book. There are no known threats to their population at present except in Sri Lanka, where their numbers have rapidly dwindled since the '50s. In all other countries of South Asia, this bird is plentiful.
Jungle Bush Quail Fun Facts
What do jungle bush quails look like?
The jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica) is a beautiful bird species that has a range of colors on its body. These birds are characterized by their chestnut-brown colored base feathers and red and white-colored feathers on their head.
Their legs are orange-yellow and their beaks are brown-black in color. The underpart of their breast and belly are heavily barred with spots of white. A common fade of dark to pale brown to pale yellow is seen across different areas of their body.
While females have a uniformly brown-colored body, males are distinguished by their extensively barred white underparts. The wings of both male and female birds are spotted all over with small white dots.
How cute are they?
The jungle bush quail is found to be an extremely cute bird because of its small size and puffed-up breasts. While males look prettier because of their barred breasts, female birds look cuter with their plain brown bellies.
The pale and dark brown stripes found on both males and females make them look similar to squirrels of the world. Their wings are covered with red and white stripes and give them an extremely adorable appearance.
How do they communicate?
A jungle bush quail's call is generally a short yet repeated 'tiri-tiri' note when parting from their coveys. A male jungle bush quail makes a repeated 'chee-chee-chuck' sound to attract a suitable female partner or when engaging in territorial fights at their place of stay.
How big is a jungle bush quail?
Although jungle bush quails are small birds, their common size ranges between 6.3-7.2 in (16-18.3 cm). They are twice the size of a sparrow and five times smaller than an eagle.
How fast can a jungle bush quail fly?
Although the exact flight speed of these birds is not known, they are seen to fly across long distances at great speeds similar to doves.
How much does a jungle bush quail weigh?
The weight of a small jungle bush quail generally ranges between 2-2.8 oz (57-81 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
A jungle bush quail male is called a cock and the jungle bush quail female is known as a hen.
What would you call a baby jungle bush quail?
A baby jungle bush quail bird is referred to as a chick.
What do they eat?
Jungle bush quails are omnivorous eaters. Their diet is mostly plant-based including foods like seeds, grains, nuts, and grasses. In drier areas, they prefer to feed on insects, larvae, and maggots.
Are they dangerous?
Jungle bush quails, mainly found in countries of Asia, are not dangerous to human beings. They are, however, top predators of various insects that form part of their diet.
Would they make a good pet?
In some areas of India and Sri Lanka, jungle bush quails are kept as pet birds however it is better that they live freely and are not kept as pets. These birds, endemic to the South Asian region, best survive in the wild and hence should not be caged.
They require large tracts of dry range which cannot be simulated at home. Keeping a jungle bush quail for sale or pet purposes could make the jungle bush quail endangered.
Did you know...
The jungle bush quail belongs to the Perdicula genus and Perdicula in Latin means a 'small partridge'.
Although these birds are known as sedentary birds and their common dwelling place is largely fixed according to their range of microhabitat, some species of Nepal migrate to Indian states to escape from the cold winter weather.
In 1790 John Latham gave the jungle bush quail species its scientific name, Perdicula asiatica, a description based on their range and origin in the Asian world.
After 1790, the jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica) was divided into four sub-species according to the Indian map. These are Perdicula vidali, Perdicula ceylonensis, Perdicula panjaubi, and Perdicula vellorei.
Breeding of these quails was, for a period, done in aviaries of America. These days, breeders of America have lost interest in breeding jungle bush quails, as many people do not like the shabby brown color of these birds.
Are jungle bush quails endangered?
These birds have not been listed as an endangered species in most of Asia including India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. However, since the '50s, their population has dwindled rapidly in areas of Sri Lanka, so appropriate conservation efforts should be undertaken.
What role do jungle bush quails play in the ecosystem?
Since a major part of their diet comprises plant-based foods, they actively help in the dispersion of seeds. This, in turn, helps in the germination and growth of a variety of plants in different places and supports a balanced ecosystem.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our bobwhite quail facts and blue grouse facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable quail coloring pages.
The main image is by Antony Grossy.
The second image is by Kohsy Koshy.
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