Stubble Quail

The stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis), whose other common names include grey quail and pectoral quail, is a species of Old World quail native to Australia. The species is widespread in mainland Australia and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, and can be found throughout all states and territories of Australia except Tasmania. It is the only native upland game bird that can be legally hunted in Australia, though with strict game law restrictions. == Taxonomy == The stubble quail is a member of the family Phasianidae. C. pectoralis has sometimes been considered conspecific with the extinct New Zealand quail, C. novaezealandiae. In this case, the latter species' name would have priority and the stubble quail would become Coturnix novaezelandiae pectoralis. Phylogenetic analysis of three separate mitochondrial control region sequences in 2009 showed a close phylogenetic relationship between the two birds and it was confirmed that they are separate species. Geographic isolation occurred between the Australian species and the New Zealand species when the Tasman Sea became too wide for the birds to fly the journey. This geographic isolation enabled genetic divergence to occur and two separate species were produced. The two species then independently lost the ability to…