Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Common Quail
Coturnix coturnix
The Common quail is the only quail that lives wild in Norway. It should not be confused with Japanese quail, which is the most common in hobby keeping.
The Common quail is a migratory bird that arrives in Norway to breed in the spring and leaves for Africa and India in the autumn.
The official Norwegian name is simply "Vaktel", but it is often referred to as Euro quail, or European Quail.
I contacted the Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet), and in June 2024, I received answers to some questions I asked about the Common quail and the wild quail population in Norway.
Miljødirektoratet describes the quail as follows:
European quail is the species that lives wild in Norway. It is a naturally rare and scattered breeding species. The species is categorised as vulnerable (VU) on the 2021 Red List. In 2015, the Norwegian breeding population was estimated to be between 100-600 individuals, but fluctuates widely between years.
The main negative impact factors are intensive farming, hunting and trapping, and hybridisation with exposed Japanese quail.
It became very clear to me how vulnerable this species is. That hybridisation with Japanese quail is a threat to the population we must take seriously.
Fact Sheet
- Scientific name
- Coturnix coturnix
- Official Norwegian name
- Vaktel
- Official English name
- Common Quail
- Also known as
- Common quail, Euro quail
- Incubation period
- Approx. 18 days
- Lifespan in the wild
- Approx. 2-5 years*
*Lifespan is influenced by many factors such as genetics, environment, feed and care. Consider this a guideline, not a definitive answer.
Note
About lifespan
I hobbyhold lever de 2-5 år. I naturen lever de ofte kortere.
