Stubble quail

The stubble quail is a member of the family Phasianidae.[3][6] C. pectoralis has sometimes been considered conspecific with the extinct New Zealand quail, C. novaezealandiae. In this case, the latter species' name would have priority and the stubble quail would become Coturnix novaezelandiae pectoralis. Phylogenetic analysis of three separate mitochondrial control region sequences in 2009 showed a close phylogenetic relationship between the two birds and it was confirmed that they are separate species. Geographic isolation occurred between the Australian species and the New Zealand species when the Tasman Sea became too wide for the birds to fly the journey. This geographic isolation enabled genetic divergence to occur and two separate species were produced. The two species then independently lost the ability to fly long distances.[7]

The stubble quail is a ground dwelling bird that is characterised by its dark brown feathers with a cream coloured strip down the centre of each feather giving rise to stripes down the length of the bird. It is a plump species that is larger than other native quails. Male birds will mature at about 18.0–18.5 cm long and females are generally slightly larger.[8] Adult males weigh around 100g and the females around 110g with all birds having a wingspan of between 25–33 cm.[9] The stubble quail can also be identified by the loud whirring noise made by their wings during take-off into flight once disturbed from on the ground.

Stubble quail are found in a diverse range of habitats from very dry parts of Australia [10] to alpine grasslands.[11] Stubble quail are more common in the high rainfall areas of southeastern and western Australia though are often found in the arid zone after above average rainfall.[9] The species was found in all Australian states including Tasmania up until the 1940s to 1960s when they became extinct in Tasmania.[4] On the mainland stubble quail are found in a variety of biomes but tend to avoid wooded areas as the canopy obstructs the growth of thick grassy undergrowth that they prefer.[9] They prefer a habitat of tall grassland made up of native or introduced grasses, and crops.[2] The density of the ground cover is highly important for stubble quail habitat as the birds prefer very dense vegetation.[8] A high density of kangaroos and rabbits (or any grazing animal) in an area can decrease the height and density of grassland vegetation and make the habitat unsuitable for stubble quail.[12] They are frequently found in agricultural areas after the harvest of cereal crops, [6] where they feed on grain and insects.[4]

The stubble quail has many evolutionary adaptations that enable it to live in very dry conditions. These include low daily water requirements, high tolerance of saline water and the ability to produce highly concentrated waste products.[10] Highly concentrated urine is achieved by the large medulla in the kidney which is present in the stubble quail. If the birds have access to green foliage as well as grain, the stubble quail can survive without drinking any water.[6] In areas where temperatures are very hot, stubble quail have been observed to forage during the night.[15] Stubble quail that live in arid areas can have very irregular breeding patterns that are more dependent on environmental conditions than day length. This takes advantage of resources such as food and water, for their chicks.[13] The stubble quail are thermally neutral at 30–35 °C so in some habitats where temperatures fall below 0 °C a large amount of energy is expended maintaining body temperature.[15]