Black-rumped Buttonquail
Turnix nanus
Small, brownish quail-like bird. Generally rare and elusive species that is unlikely to be seen by those not expressly looking for it. The face is orange, and in flight, a large black rump patch is obvious. Found very locally in moist grassland. Gives a long series of low “hoo” notes. Very similar to Small Buttonquail, but separated by orange face and black rump. Also similar to female quail, but differs in less explosive flight and black rump.
Identification
This species has a brown back, rufous chest, and pale belly, brown irises and a black rump. As usual for buttonquails but not for most birds, the female is larger and brighter than the male. The birds are shy and difficult to flush.
Taxonomy
The Black-rumped buttonquail, scientific name Turnix nanus, belongs to the family Turnicidae, which includes buttonquails or hemipodes. The family is part of the order Charadriiformes, which also contains shorebirds, gulls, and auks. The Turnicidae family consists of 16 species of buttonquails found in Asia, Africa, and Australia.The Black-rumped buttonquail was first described by the British naturalist Thomas Horsfield in 1821. The species was initially classified as Tetrao nanus but later placed in the genus Turnix. The Black-rumped buttonquail is one of the smallest buttonquail species, measuring only about 15 cm (6 in) in length and weighing around 30 g (1 oz).There are no recognized subspecies of the Black-rumped buttonquail, but the species does exhibit some genetic diversity across its range. In recent years, genetic studies have helped to clarify the evolutionary relationships within the Turnicidae family and have led to the recognition of several new species.Overall, the Black-rumped buttonquail has a relatively well-understood taxonomy, but further research is needed to fully understand the genetic diversity and relationships within the Turnicidae family.
- Scientific name
- Turnix nanus
- Authority
- (Sundevall, 1850)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Turnicidae
- Genus
- Turnix
Range and habitat
The species is found in open grassland through much of Africa outside the forested and more arid regions. It is resident in the central parts of the range but is a migratory breeder further north towards Lake Chad and the Central African Republic.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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Range-restricted, gray-and-red spinetail. Found in bamboo and other dense, tangly undergrowth in secondary forest in parts of the Andean foothills of Peru, Bolivia, and adjacent lowlands. Browner than the similar Dark-breasted Spinetail, which has a gray face and underparts. Darker and more reddish on the upperparts and crown than other similar species like Plain-crowned and Pale-breasted Spinetails. Forages singly or in pairs in the undergrowth. Listen for its call: a nasal “nyeck-nyeck.”
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