The Quail is one of the smallest members of the pheasant family. They are sometimes difficult to see - they like hiding in crops or behind bushes.

Quail are monogamous in the wild, which means the males only mate with one female. The female lays about 12 eggs at one time.
In the autumn the birds join together in small flocks called 'coveys'.
Quails feature in the Bible story of Moses asking God for meat for the Israelites.

Male birds have a distinctive repetitive song, sung mostly in the mornings, which sounds like wet-my-lips!

Where do Quails live?
Quails live on farmland and grassland across most of Europe and Asia.

However they are the only type of 'game' bird to migrate each winter - to central Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

What do Quails eat?
Seeds and plants like poppy, wheat and barley, and sometimes insects and ant larvae.

Why are do we keep Quails?
Many people enjoy eating Quail meat as well as Quail eggs.

Average lifespan
Quails live between seven months and one year in the wild.