Buttonquail

Buttonquails, also known as hemipodes, are small birds that live on the ground. They belong to the family Turnicidae. Although they look like true quails, they are not actually related to them. Instead, they belong to the order Charadriiformes. This means they are part of the group that includes shorebirds. These birds live in warm, tropical grasslands. You can find them in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and New Guinea.

Buttonquails have unique physical features that set them apart from other birds. They are small, terrestrial birds that prefer running over flying. The smallest species is the quail-plover. It belongs to the genus Ortyxelos and weighs only 12 grams. Other species belong to the genus Turnix. These birds range from 14 to 24 centimeters in length. They weigh between 30 and 110 grams. Unlike true quails, buttonquails lack a crop and a hind toe. Females also have a special vocal organ. This organ consists of an enlarged trachea and an inflatable bulb in the esophagus. They use it to create a loud, booming call.

One of the most unusual things about buttonquails is their breeding system. They practice what is called sequential polyandry. This means the female often mates with several different males in a row. Both the male and female work together to build a nest. The nest is usually a scrape on the ground near overhanging plants. The female lays a clutch of 4 or 5 eggs. After laying the eggs, she often leaves to find a new mate. The male is responsible for incubating the eggs. He also stays to care for the young after they hatch.

Life moves very quickly for a buttonquail chick. The chicks are precocial, meaning they can leave the nest shortly after they hatch. The eggs hatch synchronously, which means they all hatch around the same time. This happens after 12 to 15 days of incubation. Once they are out, the male cares for them. The chicks can fly when they are two weeks old. They become fully independent by four weeks of age. For the smallest species, they reach sexual maturity in just three months.

Scientists have spent a long time studying the history of these birds. In 1791, a French naturalist named Pierre Bonnaterre introduced the genus Turnix. The name is an abbreviation of the genus Coturnix. Later, in 1840, an English zoologist named George Robert Gray introduced the family Turnicidae. For many years, experts thought buttonquails belonged to the orders Gruiformes or Galliformes. This would mean they were related to cranes or pheasants. However, new research changed this view. Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy suggested they were a separate order called Turniciformes. Modern DNA data now shows they are correctly placed among the shorebirds.

There are 18 known species of buttonquail in the world. Most belong to the genus Turnix, while only one is in the genus Ortyxelos. Some species are very rare or may even be extinct. For example, the Tawitawi common buttonquail became extinct in the mid-20th century. The Andalusian common buttonquail might be extinct as well. The New Caledonian buttonquail was possibly extinct in the early 20th century. Other species include the Red-backed buttonquail and the Madagascar buttonquail. Each species has its own place in the diverse ecosystems of the tropics.

Buttonquails are an ancient group of birds. Evidence for this comes from fossils like Turnipax. This fossil dates back to the Early Oligocene. Molecular data also supports their ancient history. By studying their DNA, scientists can see how these birds evolved over millions of years. Their unique biology helps us understand how different bird groups are related. Even though they look like one type of bird, their DNA tells a much deeper story about the history of life on Earth.