Jungle Bush Quail

The Jungle Bush Quail, Perdicula asiatica, is a diminutive and charming bird, a member of the Phasianidae family. Males and females exhibit notable sexual dimorphism. The male is adorned with brown upperparts, marked with blackish and buff, and a striking face of dark reddish-brown. The female, on the other hand, presents with pinkish-brown underparts and a more uniform wing pattern. This species measures a modest 15–18 cm in length and tips the scales at 57–82 g.

Identification Tips

Males boast a whitish underbelly barred with black, while the lower belly and undertail coverts are a warm reddish-buff. The female's moustachial stripes are notably duller, and some may develop pale barring on the breast. Juveniles resemble females but have additional white streaks on the head and throat. The bill is blackish in males and greyish in other plumages, and the legs range from pinkish to dull red, with males showing the brightest hue.

Habitat

The Jungle Bush Quail favors dry, shrubby, or rocky terrains. Its preferred habitats span from sparse grasslands to dense deciduous forests, up to elevations of 1,200 m, and even 1,500 m in the Western Ghats and southern India.

Distribution

This quail is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, predominantly found in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Historical records exist from Nepal, though it has not been sighted there since the 19th century. An introduced population thrives on Réunion, while it is now extinct in Mauritius.

Behaviour

In groups of 6–25, known as coveys, these quails are often seen dust bathing or foraging. They exhibit a preference for walking or running to evade threats, taking flight only as a last resort. When startled, they scatter in various directions, later regrouping through their calls. Roosting is a ground affair.

Song & Calls

The male's call is a harsh, rhythmic "chee-chee-chuck," akin to a black drongo in dispute. Separated flocks communicate with a low, whistling "tiri-tiri-tiri" or "whi-whi-whi-whi-whi." They also emit burbling or grating notes, a low chuckle when flushed, and harsh alarm calls.

Breeding

Breeding commences post-rains and persists until the cold season's end, with regional variations in timing. Nests are shallow scrapes lined with grass, hidden at the base of grass tufts. Clutches typically contain 4–8 creamy white to pale buff eggs. Incubation, lasting 16–18 days in the wild, is solely the female's duty, with males assisting post-hatching.

Similar Species

The Jungle Bush Quail could be mistaken for the Rock Bush Quail, which is less sexually dimorphic and has a shorter, whiter eyestripe and a reddish-white throat with a white moustachial stripe.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of seeds from grass, weeds, gram, and millets, supplemented with small insects like termites and their larvae.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Jungle Bush Quail as Least Concern, thanks to its extensive range and stable population. It is generally common across India, though reports indicate local declines in some regions. In Sri Lanka, it remains locally abundant in the Uva Province hills. The Réunion population is declining but still locally common, while it is extinct in Mauritius.