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Japanese quail

Coturnix japonica · Quail · Upland game birds

Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica): Dark brown with buff mottling above, lighter brown below; whitish stripe above the eye. Males usually show rufous on the breast and black flecking on the throat; females usually lack these. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the japanese quail map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Coturnix japonica
Family
Phasianidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native to East Asia; domesticated since about the 13th century. NatureServe records it in Hawaii; Hawaii DLNR lists it among Hawaii's game birds.
Biology

How to identify it

Dark brown with buff mottling above, lighter brown below; whitish stripe above the eye. [1][2][3]

Males usually show rufous on the breast and black flecking on the throat; females usually lack these. [1][2][3]

Legs and bill orangish to pinkish grey; wild birds about 90-115 g; wing 92-101 mm. [1][2][3]

Compared with the common quail: Very similar; the two are sympatric in Mongolia without interbreeding (ADW, NatureServe). [1][2][3]

Field notes

  • Identification Confirm a japanese quail before you act. Compared with the common quail: Very similar; the two are sympatric in Mongolia without interbreeding (ADW, NatureServe).[1][2][3]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Grassy fields, river banks and rice fields. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Male call is typically three notes ('deep hollow sounds' repeated); seven distinct male displays and calls recorded in captive birds [1][2][3]

Migratory: breeds in northern Japan, Korea and Russia, winters in southeast China, Hainan, Taiwan and southern Japan [1][2][3]

Eats grass seeds plus small worms, insect larvae and other invertebrates, especially in summer [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native to East Asia; domesticated since about the 13th century. NatureServe records it in Hawaii; Hawaii DLNR lists it among Hawaii's game birds.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  3. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources