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- Turnix suscitator
Identification
Rufous-brown above, rusty and buff below, chin, throat and breast closely barred with black. Female larger, richly coloured, black throat and middle of breast. Both sexes have blue-grey bill and legs, yellowish and white eyes, pale buff shoulder-patches.
Distribution
India, Asia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma to south China, Indonesia and the Philippines
Taxonomy
Subspecies
- T. s. taigoor - India
- T. s. leggei - Sri Lanka
- T. s. plumbipes - Nepal, Sikkim and Bangladesh to n Myanmar
- T. s. bengalensis - NE India (lower w Bengal)
- T. s. okinavensis - S Kyushu I. and Makenoshima I. south to Ryukyu Islands
- T. s. rostratus - Taiwan
- T. s. blakistoni - Myanmar to s China, n Indochina and Hainan I.
- T. s. pallescens - S-central Myanmar
- T. s. thai - Central Thailand
- T. s. interrumpens - Peninsular Myanmar and Thailand
- T. s. atrogularis - Peninsular Malaysia
- T. s. suscitator - Sumatra, Belitung I. and Bangka I. to Java and Bali
- T. s. baweanus - Bawean I. (off Java)
- T. s. fasciatus - N Philippines (Luzon to Mindoro, Sibuyan and Masbate)
- T. s. haynaldi - SW Philippines (Palawan and Calamian Is.)
- T. s. nigrescens - Philippines (Negros, Cebu and Panay)
- T. s. rufilatus - Sulawesi
- T. s. powelli - "Powell's Buttonquail"; Lesser Sundas
Habitat
Grasslands and scrub.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects and seeds.
The female builds a grass-lined ground nest, in scrub jungle or crops. 3-4, greyish white, profusely speckled with reddish brown or blackish purple, eggs are laid. The female then leaves and the eggs are incubated by the male who cares for the young, while the female seeks another mate.
References
Wikipedia
