The Rain Quail or Black-breasted Quail (Coturnix coromandelica) is a species of quail found in South Asia.

Distribution

Grassland, cropped fields and scrub in the Gangetic plains, central India and parts of peninsular India. Mostly seen in winter further south.

Identification

Lacks barring on primaries. Male has a black breast-patch and distinctive head pattern of black and white. The female is difficult to separate from female Common Quail and Japanese Quail but the spots on the breast are more delicate.

Call is a metallic chrink-chrink, constantly repeated mornings and evenings, and in the breeding season also during the night. It is quite unmistakably distinct from the call of the Common Grey Quail.

Nesting

• Season: overall March to October, but chiefly after the break of the southwesterly monsoon in June.
• Nest: Eggs are laid in a scrape in the ground, sometimes in the open under a Euphorbia or similar bush. Eggs - 6 to 8, resembling those of Grey Quail but smaller. Only the female incubates.

Cited references

1. ^ Rasmussen, P.C. and J. C. Anderton 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.
2. ^ Ali, Salim; J C Daniel (1983). The book of Indian Birds, Twelfth Centenary edition. Bombay Natural History Society/Oxford University Press. 

Other references

• BirdLife International (2004). Coturnix coromandelica. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

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External Links

• Coturnix Corner - Dedicated Quail website
• Coturnix Corner Forum