Common buttonquail

The common buttonquail, also known as the Kurrichane buttonquail, small buttonquail, or Andalusian hemipode, is a captivating bird species found across diverse regions, ranging from southern Spain and Africa to India, Asia, and Indonesia. These birds are small and elusive, preferring warm grasslands, scrub jungles, and cornfields over dense forests and hilly areas, and primarily dwelling on the ground where they feed on insects and seeds.

Spotting a common buttonquail can be quite challenging due to their secretive nature and their tendency to run rather than fly when disturbed. They resemble the common quail, with sandy brown upperparts, buff-colored underparts marked with black flanks, and a plain face.

During the courtship period, the female takes an active role by constructing the ground nest. Interestingly, it is the male who incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks. Their breeding season typically spans from June to September. During this time, you might hear the female's deep "hoom-hoom-hoom" call, followed by the male's "kek-kek-kek" response.

The common buttonquail is classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating they are not currently at significant risk of extinction. However, there is a critical exception for the nominate subspecies found in the Mediterranean region. This particular subspecies has experienced drastic declines and is now critically endangered, surviving only in Morocco after becoming extinct in Spain in 2018. This extinction marked the first of a bird species in Europe since the Great Auk disappeared in 1852.

The name "Kurrichane" originates from Kaditshwene in Botswana, adding a touch of geographical history to this unique bird.