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The answer is the quail. Quails are small, plump short-tailed game birds belonging to the pheasant family Phasianidae. There are many different species of quail found across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. They inhabit various habitats from forests and bush to grasslands and deserts. Quails typically have round bodies, short necks and small heads. Their wings are rounded and broad, allowing them to fly swiftly but only for short distances. Their legs are short and feathered and their toes are adapted for scratching. Their tail feathers are short. In terms of size, most quail species grow to 12–16 inches (30–40 cm) long and weigh 4–8 ounces (110–225 grams). This makes them a very small bird similar in size to a partridge. Overall, quails closely resemble Old World partridges in physical characteristics and fill a similar ecological niche. This combination of small size, round body shape, short tail and preference for running makes quails a good match as a “small short tailed old world game bird resembling a small partridge.”
Description of Quail Features
Quails are highly diverse, with over 130 species identified. Some key features that unite quail species and set them apart from other birds include:
Small Size
Quails are diminutive birds, generally ranging from 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long. Species like the common quail and Gambel’s quail weigh about 4-6 ounces (110-170 grams). Even larger species like the rock quail and Philby’s partridge quail weigh no more than 8-10 ounces (225-280 grams). This is quite small for a game bird. For example, while quails may reach 12 inches long, chickens can grow over 2 feet tall and pheasants over 40 inches long. This makes quails one of the smallest game bird species.
Plump, Round Body Shape
Quails have a characteristic round, plump body shape. Their body is full around the middle with a shorter neck and tail. This gives them an almost egg-shaped silhouette different from the larger, elongated body plans of pheasants and partridges. Their wings are rounded as well, lacking the pointed wingtips seen in some related birds. This round body profile is shared across quail species from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Short, Feathered Legs
Quails have short legs covered in feathers down to their toes. Their legs are generally yellow or grayish in color. Relative to their body size, quail legs are noticeably shorter than many birds. This gives them a stocky stance close to the ground. The feathering on their legs can disguise their short length at a glance. But it does serve a functional purpose, helping insulate their legs and feet.
Short, Round Wings
Their wings are shaped stubbily and rounded compared to other game birds. When resting, the wings sit close to the body, barely extending past the tail. In flight, the wings remain broad and curved. This wing shape enables swift bursts of speed and agile dodging ability. But it lacks the sustained flying power needed for long migrations seen in birds with longer, pointed wings. As a result, quails generally only take short, frequent flights close to cover.
Crest Feathers
Many quail species have distinctive head ornaments called crests or tufts. These are made up of several elongated, upright feathers protruding from the top of the head. Examples include the elegant crest of the California quail and the teardrop-shaped crest of the Gambel’s quail. Females may have a shortened or absent crest compared to males. Head crests are thought to play a role in species recognition and courtship displays.
Stocky Bill Shape
Quails have stout, conical bills suited for their diet of seeds and vegetation. The upper mandible curves slightly downward to align with the shorter lower mandible. Their bill lacks the specialized adaptations seen in shorebirds and waterfowl. Compared to other game birds, it is much smaller and lighter than the large bills of chickens, pheasants and grouse.
Cryptic Plumage Patterns
Quails exhibit excellent camouflagepatterns. Their plumage frequently mixes striking contrasts of warm browns, tan, grays, black and white. These markings break up their outline amid leaf litter and dirt. Some species also have areas of patterning resembling plant stems and leaves. This allows quails to disappear against vegetation when holding still. Even ornamented crests are colored to blend into the head’s surroundings.
Short, Tapered Tail
One of the quail’s most definitive features is its short, tapered tail. Their tail feathers lack the lengthened, specialized shape seen in birds that rely on tails for support and steering in flight. As ground birds, quails have little need for a long tail. Most species have 10-14 tail feathers forming a short fan or wedge shape under 3 inches long. This contrasts with the much longer, broad tails of pheasants.
Behavioral Traits Supporting Comparison to Partridges
Beyond physical resemblance, quails share many behavioral and ecological similarities with partridges that further support comparing them to “small partridges”:
Terrestrial Habitat
Like partridges, quails are primarily terrestrial ground birds and do not swim or dive. They spend most of their time on the ground nesting, feeding and taking cover. Some species inhabit grasslands, agricultural areas, forests, desert scrub and woodland edges. Their legs and feet are adapted for walking and running versus swimming, wading or perching.
Diet
Quails are vegetarians, feeding mainly on seeds, grain, berries, leaves, buds and some insects. This varied diet centered on plant foods mirrors the diet of partridges. In turn, both quails and partridges fill an important niche as consumers of vegetation and insects in many ecosystems.
Behavior
In their activities, movements and habits, quails share many similarities with partridges:
- Both run on the ground versus hopping or walking.
- They have a preference for hiding and nesting in dense, protective cover.
- Their flight style consists of fast, bursting travel close to the ground instead of sustained or long-distance flight.
- They both form social coveys outside of breeding season.
- They bathe in dust to clean themselves.
- They roost on the ground together in groups.
These shared behaviors link quails and partridges as ecological counterparts adapted for life in the same types of habitat.
Game Birds
Both quails and partridges are classified as game birds hunted as popular targets for small game hunting and sport shooting. Their tendencies to run and hide rather than fly make them a rewarding hunting challenge mirroring one another.
Nesting
Quails build their nests on the ground in thick areas of brush and grass. The hen scrapes out a shallow depression to lay the eggs then relies on camouflage for protection. Partridges use a very similar nesting strategy, building ground nest “scrapes” concealed by their surroundings.
Geographic Overlap Between Quails and Partridges
Quails and partridges naturally co-occur across parts of Europe, Africa and Asia:
Europe
The common quail inhabits shrubland, grassland and agricultural areas across Europe. It overlaps with native partridge species like the grey partridge, red-legged partridge and chukar partridge. Hybrids can even occur between the common quail and some partridges.
Africa
In Africa, there are multiple partridge and quail species with overlapping ranges like Harwood’s francolin and the common buttonquail. The stone partridge and Nahan’s francolin occupy Ethiopian Highland habitat also inhabited by the Abyssinian blue-winged goose.
Asia
The rain quail, brown quail and blue-breasted quail are found across southern Asia in India, China and southeast Asia. Their distribution overlaps with several partridges including the chukar partridge, see-see partridge and Tibetan partridge living in the same forest and grassland environments.
This geographic coexistence supports the ecological similarities between quails filling the niche of “small partridges” across the Old World.
Key Differences Between Quails and Partridges
While closely related in the pheasant family, quails and partridges do show some key differences:
Quails | Partridges |
---|---|
Smaller overall size, most around 6-12 inches long | Larger size, often over 12 inches long |
Plumper body shape with a short, tapered tail | Slightly elongated body and tail |
Softer vocalizations using buzzes, whistles and whines | Louder, harsher vocalizations |
More elaborate head plumage including crests | Minimal specialized head feathers |
Greater diversity – over 130 quail species worldwide | Less diversity – around 50 partridge species exist |
Conclusion
In conclusion, quails closely match the description of a “small short tailed old world game bird resembling a small partridge” based on a detailed analysis of their size, physical features, geographic range, habitat preferences, behaviors, and similarities to true partridges. Their petite stature, plump body shape, short tail and wings, terrestrial lifestyle and crested head align them with the classic profile of a diminutive partridge-like bird. While some minor differences exist between quails and partridges, quails overwhelmingly fit the partridge mold as small, ground-dwelling gamebirds – therefore “resembling a small partridge”. From the forests of Europe to the Sahel of Africa, quails have adapted to diverse habitats while retaining their distinct partridge-esque form as an evolutionarily successful life strategy. So whether creeping through cultivated thickets in Italy or dashing across scrub brush in India, the quail thoroughly embodies the essence of a tiny, short-tailed old world game bird echoing its partridge cousins.