Nests and eggs of the Chestnut-backed Button-quail Turnix castanotus: Two new nests and a review of previous descriptions

Abstract

The Chestnut-backed Button-quail Turnix castanotus is a small, cryptic, ground-dwelling species endemic to savanna ecosystems of northern Australia. Due to aspects of its ecology, cryptic plumage and behaviour, and the remoteness of most of its distribution, there are few published observations from the field documenting its breeding biology. The eggs were first described in 1856 and have subsequently been described by other authors. Two nests were detected in the Northern Territory in March 2021. We compare nesting events there with previous descriptions and museum collections. Our findings are mostly consistent with other literature on this species, but are inconsistent with two contemporary accounts, which we suggest are based on misidentification of Painted Button-quail T. varius.