Coturnix coturnix -- (Linnaeus, 1758)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- GALLIFORMES -- PHASIANIDAECommon names: Common Quail; Caille des blés; Quail

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be fluctuating, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 3,320,000-6,720,000 calling or lekking males, which equates to 6,630,000-13,400,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 1,270,000-2,980,000 calling or lekking males, which equates to 2,540,000-5,950,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size is estimated to be fluctuating. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 10 years. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThe species is found in open habitats including agricultural land (Tucker and Heath 1994, McGowan et al. 2013) where it prefers fields of clover, winter wheat and other cereals as well as hay, rough grass and overgrown fallow (Tucker & Heath 1994). It avoids bare soils (McGowan et al. 2013), trees and scrub (Cramp and Simmons 1980, Aubrais et al. 1986), preferring areas with a dense herb layer less than 1 m tall.

Egg-laying occurs from mid-May to August in northern Europe and late March to mid-June in southern Europe. Typically 8–13 eggs are laid. The nest consists of a scrape with grassy material added and is found in herbaceous vegetation or grasses. Birds feed mainly on the seeds of grasses, weeds and grain but will also eat ground-dwelling invertebrates. Birds are migratory, with most of the western Palearctic population wintering south of the Sahara mainly in the Sahel zone; however birds may winter as far north as the British Isles and Germany or around the Mediterranean (McGowan et al. 2013). Birds may also winter in north-west Africa and remain to breed in March-April before migrating into Europe where they breed once again (Guyomarc'h and Saint-Jalme 1986, Guyomarc'h 1992, Rodriguez-Teijeiro et al. 1992). Migration routes are thought to vary between individuals and years (McGowan et al. 2013).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingAltitude max. 1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsAgricultural intensification has led to the loss of rough grass and uncultivated land and an increase in the use of herbicides and insecticides which have led to a reduction on the availability of weeds, seeds and insects (Tucker and Heath 1994). Hybridization with Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) is a serious danger in southern Europe (Tucker and Heath 1994, Chazara et al. 2010). Other potential threats driving declines in Europe are hunting, long-term climactic fluctuations and drought in the sub-Saharan wintering grounds (Tucker and Heath 1994).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown

StressesSpecies mortality

Climate change & severe weather

Droughts Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown

StressesSpecies mortality

Climate change & severe weather

Habitat shifting & alteration

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Conservation

Conservation Actions UnderwayCMS Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex II. Hunting legislation in Europe is in place but is poorly enforced (Tucker and Heath 1994). A European Species Management Plan was published in 2009 (Perennou 2009).

Conservation Actions Proposed The introduction of wide-scale habitat conservation measures is needed. The maintenance and promotion of low-intensity farming methods and the avoidance of ploughing or cutting in the nesting period would benefit this species. Existing hunting legislation should be enforced and hunters and trappers made aware of the dangers of excessive mortality. In addition the further release of C. japonica should be prevented (Tucker and Heath 1994). Adequate population monitoring to assess hunting pressure and population trends should be implemented and research to investigate population dynamics undertaken (Perennou 2009).

BibliographyAubrais, O., Hemon, Y.A. and Guyomarc’h, J -C. 1986. [Habitat use in the Quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) at the onset of the breeding period]. Gibier Faune Sauvage 3: 317–342.Chazara, O., Minvielle, F., Roux, D., Bed’hom, B., Feve, K., Coville, J. L., Kayang, B.B., Lumineau, S., Vignal, A., Boutin, J –M. & Rognon, X. (2010). Evidence for introgressive hybridization of wild common quail (Coturnix coturnix) by domesticated Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in France. Conservation Genetics 11(3): 1051-1062.Guyomarc’h, J.-C. 1992. [Structure, functioning and microevolution in Quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) populations of the western Palearctic]. Gibier Faune Sauvage 9: 387–401. (In French.)Guyomarc’h, J.-C. and Saint-Jalme, M. 1986. [Reproduction in the Quail (Coturnix coturnix). II: growth and sexual maturation in chicks.] Gibier Faune Sauvage 3: 281–295. (In French.)McGowan, P.J.K., de Juana, E. and Boesman, P. 2013. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) 2013. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53434 on 29 September 2014).Perennou, C. 2009. European Management Plan 2009-2011: Common Quail Coturnix coturnix. Office for Official Publications of the European Communitie, Luxembourg.Rodriguez-Teijeiro, J. D., Puigcerver, M. and Gallego, S. 1992. Mating strategy in the European Quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) revealed by male population density and sex ratio in Catalonia (Spain). Gibier Faune Sauvage 9: 377–386.Tucker, G.M. and Heath, M.F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3, BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Map (see overleaf)