CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae

Turnix melanogaster  

Black-breasted Button-quail (Turnix melanogaster)
click photo for larger image
© Larry Dunis 2010
Inskip Point, QLD (Mar, 2010)

A tell for these birds being present in the area are multiple saucer-like scrapes in the leaf litter. I had the privilege of watching this particular bird form one of these scrapes by turning around and around on one foot, throwing leaf litter and dirt outwards with the other.

Black-breasted Button-quail (Turnix melanogaster)

Black-breasted Button-quail (male)

Black-breasted Button-quail (Turnix melanogaster)

Saucerer

Black-breasted Button-quail (Turnix melanogaster)

Camouflage expert