History of The Coturnix Quails

This Quail has been known by many different names. Early American settlers who raised Coturnix knew it as the Bible Quail. Later, imported Coturnix from Germany became known as the German Quail. Importations from Japan since World War II are known as Japanese Quail. One list includes approximately 100 names that are used or have been used throughout the world including the King's Quail, the Emperor's Quail, the Tsar's Quail, the Mediterranean Quail, the Holy Land Quail and the Nile Quail, all applying to the same Coturnix Quail.

The name Pharaoh's Quail is becoming a popular title. Many of the earliest Egyptian murals depict this Quail and indicate it was valued as an important source of food for the Egyptians who constructed the Pyramids and other monuments to the Pharaohs. One or more of the Egyptian hieroglyphic characters is certainly the likeness of this Quail. There are also Bible references and Roman writings substantiating the Egyptian records of great flocks of the bird propagating in Egypt in the days of the Pharaohs. However, the available Egyptian and Biblical records do not indicate that these birds were ever bred in captivity.

The importance of quail to the food supply of these ancient civilizations can be explained when one takes into account the migratory patterns of the European Coturnix. European coturnix migrate south in the fall, across the Mediterranean Sea where, in their exhausted condition, they are easily caught or trapped. Thus they became an important and easily accessible supply of meat for these ancient peoples, without the people having to raise them as domestic birds. Coturnixes were first domesticated in the Orient.

Quail are native to all continents except the Americas. Some species of them, are migratory birds of Asia, Africa and Europe. Several interbreeding subspecies are recognized, the more important being the European quail (Coturnix coturnix), and the Asiatic or Japanese quail (coturnix japonica). This subspecies, which commonly migrates between Europe and Asia, was eventually domesticated in China. These birds were raised as pets and singing birds. The domesticated coturnix was brought to Japan from China across the Korean bridge in the eleventh century (Howes, 1964).

The first written records of domesticated quail originate in Japan. They date from the twelfth century. These birds were initially developed for song. It is claimed that a Japanese Emperor obtained relief from tuberculosis after eating quail meat, and this led to selection of domestic quail for meat and egg production in Japan during the latter part of the nineteenth century (Howes, 1964). By 1910, the Coturnix quail in Japan were widely cultured for their meat and eggs. Between 1910 and 1941, the population of Japanese quail increased rapidly, especially in the Tokyo, Mishima, Nagoya, Gifu and Toyohashi areas. This period also represented a time of imperial expansion in Japanese history, thus domesticated Japanese quail were established in Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and later on spread to Southeast Asia.

From these areas, Quail Farming has moved into North America where it has found a market in restaurants as a healthier and better tasting alternative to other types of poultry. While other markets are opening up among falconers and people who keep larger species of snakes, as an inexpensive and healthy food supply.

The Coturnix quail is also one of the world's finest game birds. Its response to the hunter and dog is very similar to that of Bobwhite quails and it's ground holding and flushing behavior is the same as well. Where the Coturnix Quail differs from the Bobwhite Quail is in the feeding habits. Bobwhite Quail, for instance will never leave the place of its birth except under duress and normal migration periods, the Coturnix is entirely different. When the feed runs out, coveys will burst up and individual birds will scatter looking for food.

Another difference between the Bobwhite and the Coturnix (which may be of interest to hunters) is that a Coturnix Quail that has been caged can have their flight wings in three days, where as the Bobwhite Quail can take up to four weeks. For hunters who wish to stock a field with birds for game hunting, the Coturnix will give the most challenge in the shortest amount of time.