Pheasants and Partridges (Phasianidae)

Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) - HBW 2, p. 510

French: Caille tasmane German: Tasmanienwachtel Spanish: Codorniz Tasmana
Other common names: Swamp Quail (ypsilophora)

Taxonomy: Coturnix ypsilophorus Bosc, 1792, no locality = Tasmania.
Previously placed in genus Synoicus. All races except nominate ypsilophora have been considered separate species, C. australis, but morphological differences between some of these greater than those between australis and ypsilophora. Populations of N Queensland, NW Australia and SW Australia have been separated in races queenslandica, cervina and sordida respectively; but differences slight, while there is no clear relation between geographical distribution and colour or pattern of plumage. Ten subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

raaltenii (S. Müller, 1842) - Lesser Sundas, on Flores, Timor and adjacent islands.
pallidior (Hartert, 1897) - Lesser Sundas, on Sumba and Sawu.
saturatior (Hartert, 1930) - lowlands of N New Guinea.

See all 10 subspecies

raaltenii (S. Müller, 1842) - Lesser Sundas, on Flores, Timor and adjacent islands.
pallidior (Hartert, 1897) - Lesser Sundas, on Sumba and Sawu.
saturatior (Hartert, 1930) - lowlands of N New Guinea.
lamonti Mayr & Gilliard, 1954 - moderate heights in mountains of C New Guinea.
dogwa Mayr & Rand, 1937 - lowlands of S New Guinea.
plumbeus (Salvadori, 1894) - lowlands of E New Guinea.
monticola Mayr & Rand, 1937 - alpine areas of SE New Guinea.
mafulu Mayr & Rand, 1937 - S slopes of mountains in SE New Guinea.
australis (Latham, 1801) - Australia.
ypsilophora Bosc, 1792 - Tasmania.