Abstract
Detailed and extensive studies of this species in the last 10 years have produced a great deal of new material. Field Characters has been re-written to incorporate new detail on ageing and sexing. Habitat now includes a section on the proximal environment and social components. Distribution, Population and Migration have been extensively rewritten, while new sections on population trends and survival have been included. The results of recent studies on feeding ecology, especially daily and seasonal feeding patterns, are shown. Social pattern and behaviour has been extended to include new studies on reproductive behaviour, including especially pair formation and relations within the family group. The voice of the Quail has been shown to be complex, with 24 distinct call types. The section on breeding has been rewritten to include much new material on sexual development, timing in relation to migratory status, and on growth of the young. Former splitting of the species into two colour morphs has been abandoned. There is now more detail on timing and extent of moults. Many new data on measurements and weights in relation to date and status are presented. Current thinking on the taxonomy of the species is considered in Geographical Variation.