Unusual quail at Bream Head

[Cathymitch]

This afternoon I spotted a very small quail at the top of Home Bay on the Smugglers/Busby Head loop (well inside Bream Head Reserve). The quail was in the culvert beside track, it was very quiet and made no attempt to fly off when passed by other walkers. I estimate it was about 50g, less than half the size of a brown quail, but similar shape to a brown.
Notes I made on my phone:
V. small quail, bright orange legs, dark bill and eye. Pale tan and cream back, shading to grey towards belly and lower neck. Rich chestnut-red chest through to vent and under tail. Grey around eye shading to white down neck with dark brown, almost double, chin strap.

I suspect a domestic escapee or release - any comments appreciated. Will attach photos taken from my phone...

[simon.fordham]

This looks like a red-legged partridge, Cathy.

https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/specie ... -partridge

[paradoxdinokipi]

Nah it's a domestic King Quail (also called Button Quails, or Blue-Breasted Quail on eBird). Would be someone's released pet.

[simon.fordham]

Nah it's a domestic King Quail (also called Button Quails, or Blue-Breasted Quail on eBird). Would be someone's released pet.

Thank you. I stand corrected.

[Cathymitch]

Yes, that's it - thanks guys

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Usually called Chinese painted quail on TradeMe.

[simon.fordham]

Usually called Chinese painted quail on TradeMe.

It is probably cheaper than getting them painted locally.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Good one Simon. Glad to see you haven't lost it.

[Paul Scofield]

Surprised no one has mentioned that this species is native to Australia and is prone to dispersive irruptions. This individual is an immature male and whilst I agree it is likely (by behaviour) an escapee the location is unusually distant from a source.

[Oscar Thomas]

I don't think 1-2km from the nearest houses qualifies as unusually distant from a source. Digging into the behaviour, this species is known for being cryptic in the wild and seldom seen in the open; most sightings in Australia are of flushed birds.