Painted Bush Quail

Overview

The painted bush quail (Perdicula erythrorhyncha) is a species of quail found in the hill forests of India. It is characterised by its deep red bill and legs, making it visually striking even in flight.

Identification

• Dark, brightly coloured plumage with a deep red bill and legs.
• Males feature a black face with a white supercilium and throat; females have brick-red underparts and lack the white head markings.
• Measures 17–19 cm in length and weighs between 68–88 g.
• Vocalisations include a soft whistle and a distinctive triple-note territorial call described as kirikee-kirikee-kirikee.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits the hill forests of peninsular India, occurring in two disjunct populations. One subspecies is found in the Satpuras and northern Eastern Ghats, while the nominate form is present in the Western Ghats, the Nilgiris, and the hills of southern India.

Diet

Forages on seeds, grain, and small insects in open grassy patches, forest roads, and cart tracks. The birds typically dust-bathe in these open areas during the morning and evening.

Did you know?

Females are known to aggressively defend their young, often attacking intruding dogs and even humans. The species is also noted for being pugnacious, to the extent that trappers use decoy males to capture other quails.