Plains-wanderer

Plains-wanderer, Pedionomus torquatus is a species of bird in the Limicoli suborder, and the only bird in the genus Pedionomus and the bird family Pedionomidae. It is endemic to Australia. Despite looking like a buttonquail, it is classed in Limicoli while the buttonquails have their own suborder, Turnici. Both families were once classed in Gruiformes.

Description
Plains-wanderers are similar to buttonquails but lankier, they look deceptively like a gamebird, with a compact body, small head, and well-developed legs; but, unlike buttonquails, they have a hind toe. Their plumage is soft and their wings are rounded and soft. Bill long and thin, with long, narrow nasal apertures. Their irides are faint yellow. Legs and feet are yellow to greenish yellow; toes long, hind toe short and prominent.

Males are buff and white with no obvious collar. Females are larger, darker; face and chin have sandy-red feathers, with fine black lines; chestnut collar patch; collar chequered black and white, small crescents on breast and upper abdomen.

Similar species
Stubble Quail

Brown Quail

Plains-wanderer's legs are longer than a buttonquail's.

Behaviour
Runs "crouched", may spread wings; stands erect, crouches motionless; seldom flies.