Quail
Coturnix coturnix
Gearg
Status All Ireland: Breeding (Republic, and has bred past 10 years in Northern Ireland)
Population estimate all Ireland: < 10 pairs
Trend (12 years): Stable
Trend (40 years): Stable
Survey timing: July – August
Habitat: Farmland
Occurrence: Can occur anywhere in Ireland, usually south, east and midlands. Regular in the Shannon Callows, in cereal-growing areas around Athy (Co. Kildare) and at the Lough Boora Discovery.
Habitat preference (simple description of preferred nesting habitat): Tall vegetation; typically tillage habitats (cereal and formerly in set-aside), but occurs in grassland in the callows.
Preferred ways to establish breeding status: Singing males (particularly in July) not particularly reliable as they can call for a few nights on passage. Persistent calling at regular sites is probably the most reliable way to confirm occupancy, although sightings of chicks in July/August is the only way to confirm breeding.
