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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Turnicidae
  4. ›
  5. Turnix
  6. ›
  7. Painted Buttonquail
Painted Buttonquail
Photo · (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Painted Buttonquail

Turnix varius(Latham, 1801)

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asMoolong

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Turnicidae
Genus
Turnix

At a glance

The Painted Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird, about 17–23 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
17–23 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Painted Buttonquail look like?

The Painted Buttonquail is a medium-sized bird, about 17–23 cm long and weighing 52–134 g.

The painted buttonquail is a species of buttonquail, the family Turnicidae, which resemble, but are unrelated to, the quails of Phasianidae. This species is resident in Australia where numbers are believed to be in decline. A subspecies, the Abrolhos painted buttonquail, is endemic to the Houtman Abrolhos islands.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
17–23 cm
Weight
52–134 g
Wingspan
29 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • Search leaf litter for 'platelets'—distinctive circular clearings created by the bird's unique spinning movement while foraging.

flight

  • When flushed, expect an explosive take-off with loud, whirring wings and a low, direct flight path before the bird quickly drops back into cover.

plumage

  • Adults feature a striking red iris and white 'painted' flecks on the face and breast, with females being more brightly marked and possessing a chestnut shoulder patch.

size_and_shape

  • Note the very round, plump-bodied silhouette with a disproportionately small head and short tail.

voice

  • Listen for a deep, resonant 'oom' call that repeats in an accelerating series; this low-frequency booming is most common at dawn or dusk and is notoriously difficult to locate.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Painted Buttonquail?

The Painted Buttonquail is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Painted Buttonquail eat?

The Painted Buttonquail feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Painted Buttonquail live in Australia?

The Painted Buttonquail is endemic to Australia, recorded across 55 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning south-west, south-east and east Australia and Tasmania.

BreedingSouth-west, south-east and east Australia and Tasmania

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Non-breeding

8 regions recorded