A small pheasant-family bird that visits Britain's lowlands in summer, where open grassland and farmland occur. It is secretive and may be noticed by its call.
It has a plump body and pointed wings. The upperparts are brown with beige streaks and stripes, while the underparts are a warm orange-brown.
In Europe, Common Quail eat seeds and ground-dwelling invertebrates. They nest in shallow scrapes among grasses and use farmland during migration, where vegetation offers both food and concealment.
Researchers ringed quail at two sites in Ancona Province, central-eastern Italy, during 2001–2007, recording 11,586 captures. Their 2012 paper reported that mean body mass in both sexes increased by roughly fifteen percent or more between late July and late September. They linked this seasonal pattern to accumulating energy before migration.
Most birds caught again at the same site were recaptured within ten days of their first capture. The authors interpreted these sites as temporary resting places along a migration route rather than places of prolonged residence. Brief appearances in farmland were part of a much longer journey.
IUCN Red List · Least Concern · Global
The IUCN global assessment dated 9 August 2018 lists Common Quail as Least Concern with a decreasing population trend. It identifies European habitat loss, reduced food availability associated with pesticides, hunting and hybridisation with Japanese Quail as threats. Proposed measures include conserving farmland habitat, avoiding cutting or ploughing during nesting, and monitoring populations and hunting pressure.