About the New Zealand Quail
The New Zealand quail, or koreke in Māori, is an extinct quail species endemic to New Zealand. The male and female were similar, except the female was lighter. The first scientist to describe it was Sir Joseph Banks when he visited New Zealand on James Cook's first voyage. Terrestrial and temperate, this species inhabited lowland tussock grassland and open fernlands. The first specimen to be obtained by a European was collected in 1827 by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard on Dumont D'Urville's voyage. It most likely went extinct due to diseases from introduced game birds.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae) |
| Species | Coturnix novaezelandiae |
| Species Codes | nezqua1, NZQU |
| Conservation | extinct |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the New Zealand Quail belong to?
The New Zealand Quail (Coturnix novaezelandiae) belongs to the Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies family (Phasianidae), in the order Galliformes.
How can I identify the New Zealand Quail?
The New Zealand quail, or koreke in Māori, is an extinct quail species endemic to New Zealand. The male and female were similar, except the female was lighter. The first scientist to describe it was Sir Joseph Banks when he visited New Zealand on James Cook's first voyage. Terrestrial and temperate,...
Where can I report a New Zealand Quail sighting?
You can log sightings of New Zealand Quail on eBird (ebird.org) using species code nezqua1, or on iNaturalist.
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