Image via Macaulay Library
Red-backed Buttonquail
- Scientific name
- Turnix maculosus
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Rounded
Where it came from
The Red-backed Buttonquail, Turnix maculosus, is a species of buttonquail belonging to the family Turnicidae. Unlike true quails, these ground-dwelling birds are biologically related to shorebirds like sandpipers. They are primarily distributed across parts of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and northern Australia, favoring tall grasslands and savanna habitats where their rounded wings and short, rounded tails facilitate agile movement through dense undergrowth.
The species was first formally described by the Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1815. The taxonomy of the bird reflects its evolutionary adaptation to life in the grass, characterized by a cryptic plumage that mimics its environment. Ornithologists often note the unusual role reversal in the species, where the female is more brightly colored and acts as the primary defender of territory, while the male typically handles incubation and chick-rearing.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Red-backed Buttonquail
Red-backed Buttonquail is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Red-backed Buttonquail on collecto.rs?
Red-backed Buttonquail doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Red-backed Buttonquail?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Red-backed Buttonquail catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Red-backed Buttonquail is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
