Difference Between Turtle Dove and Quail.
Although turtle doves and quails are both birds, there are obvious differences in their morphological characteristics, living habits and distribution range. Turtle doves and quails will be compared from several aspects below so that readers can better understand how they differ from each other.
1. Morphological characteristics.
The turtle dove is a small bird with a body length of 24-37 cm and a weight of about 50-80 grams. Their feathers are predominantly grayish-brown with some black and white spots on their wings. Turtle doves have smaller heads, larger eyes, and a short, slightly curved mouth that curves downward.
In contrast, the quail is a much smaller bird, measuring only 15-20 centimeters in length and weighing around 30-50 grams. Quail feathers are usually light brown or gray with relatively short wings and no spots. Quails have larger heads, smaller eyes, and elongated and slightly upturned beaks.
2. Habits.
Turtle doves mainly inhabit mountains, forests, shrubs, and grasslands, and feed mainly on grass seeds, fruits, insects, etc. They usually forage on the ground and also often perch and rest on tree branches. The breeding season of turtle doves is usually between April and July, and their nests are usually built in tree cavities or rock crevices.
Quails, on the other hand, prefer to move in open areas such as farmland, meadows and swamps, and their diet mainly consists of seeds, grains, insects, etc. They usually forage on the ground and sometimes fly to rest on tree branches. The breeding season of quails is generally from May to July, and the nests are usually built in grass or reeds.
Third, the range of distribution.
Turtle doves have a wide range of distributions, including regions such as Asia, Europe, and Africa. They are mainly found in East and Southeast Asia in Asia, and are more common in southern China. In Europe and Africa, turtle doves are widely distributed in a variety of terrains and ecological environments.
Quails, on the other hand, are mainly found in East Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and other countries. In China, quail is mainly found in the southern region, especially in the Yangtze River basin and areas south of it. In addition, quail is also distributed in small quantities in places such as Europe and Africa.
Fourth, economic value.
Both turtle doves and quails have some economic value. In the past, turtledoves were widely captured and used to make traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The quail is an important economic bird, with its delicate and delicious flesh, which is widely used in cooking and food processing. In addition, quail eggs are also popular among consumers.
5. Conservation status.
Due to a variety of reasons such as environmental and ecological damage, the populations of turtle doves and quails are under threat. In some areas, turtle doves have been listed as protected animals, and it is forbidden to kill and destroy their habitat. Quail is also protected by law in some countries to protect its population and ecology.
In summary, although turtle doves and quails belong to birds, there are obvious differences in morphological characteristics, living habits, distribution range and economic value. Understanding these differences can help us better understand and conserve these two bird resources. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the protection of the environment and ecological balance in order to maintain biodiversity.