Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
The infrequency of sightings since the last specimen was collected in 1922, with just one locality documented in the last decade, and frequent confusion with Painted Button-quail T. varia with which it is thought to co-occur in the southern part of its range, suggest that the species is very rare, may still be in decline and potentially has fewer than 50 mature individuals left. For these reasons, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Population justification
This species is evidently extremely rare. Garnett et al. (2011) posited there may be 500 birds, although this was presented without evidence and there are probably fewer, possibly even none (Webster et al. 2021a). From 2001–2019 a search effort of 103 days (193 person-days) yielded a report of one female at Mareeba in 2005, one female on Lakefield National Park in 2009, and up to two pairs at Mount Mulligan in 2015 (Mathieson and Smith 2017, Webster et al. 2021a). However, these were not accompanied by any verifiable evidence. In a separate and more targeted search effort between 2018 and 2021, extensive surveys (over 200 person-days) including camera trapping, call playback, searches for platelets, flush surveys and automated recording units were undertaken across the species's range at all known historic sites and contemporary sites with reports; no T. olivii were found, but the adopted methods were successful in detecting T. varius, T. velox, T. oyrrhothorax and T. maculosus (Webster et al. 2021b). Despite occasional reports (both peer-reviewed and anecdotal) from the Wet Tropics and Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion since the 1980s (e.g. Mathieson and Smith 2017), no observations have been made with irrefutable evidence and Webster et al. (2021b) concluded that the last confirmed records date back to the early 1920s. Accepting this assertion, the average probability of extinction using the threats model of extinction (Keith et al. 2017) and the records and survey model (Thompson et al. 2017) is 0.48. Any extant population is therefore estimated to be tiny, and the population size is here estimated at 1-250 mature individuals, with a best estimate (following Webster et al. 2021a) of 1-49 mature individuals.
Trend justification
Given the tremendous uncertainties regarding this species's population size, the trend is effectively inestimable. Although the paucity of verified records in recent decades suggests that it has declined since the 1920s, there is little indication of when this decline took place. Given how long the species has been rare for (with no verified sightings since the early 1920s), a continuing decline would probably mean the species is now Extinct. In the absence of more robust data therefore, the population trend is recorded as unknown.
The species is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, Australia. The only documented locality record in the last decade was from a small area near Mt Mulligan, west of Cairns (Mathieson and Smith 2017), where Painted and Red-chested Button-quail T. pyrrhothorax were recorded concurrently. The type specimen was collected at an unspecified location near Cooktown in June 1899 (Macdonald 1971), while the only specimen record accompanied by an accurate location data was north of Coen in 1922 (White 1922a, 1922b). There are sight records from before 2010 near Mareeba, Mount Molloy, Hann Tableland National Park, Rookwood Station near Chillagoe, the Karumba district and from around Lakefield National Park, Ingham and Iron Range (Mathieson and Smith 2009) but none have been accompanied by evidence.
The few records of Buff-breasted Buttonquail are from stony and grassy savanna woodlands on plains and slopes (Mathieson and Smith 2009, 2017) with sparsely wooded, well-drained, slight-sloping bases of hills important during the breeding season (Mathieson and Smith 2009). Birds identified as this species have also been noted from grassy clearings within rainforest patches (Squire 1990, Marchant and Higgins 1993). Regular burning that maintains open habitats, particularly in the early wet season, may be important for the species (Mathieson and Smith 2009). Four stomachs from near Coen contained seeds and insects (Marchant and Higgins 1993). Recorded clutch size is four eggs laid in dome nests on the ground and tended by the male (White 1922b).
Threats affecting the species are difficult to determine owing to the paucity of verifiable records since the early 1920s. Many sites may have been invaded by woody weeds and rendered unsuitable by inappropriate burning and grazing regimes that encourage extensive fires, but promote occlusion of grasslands and grassy woodland by woody weeds. As a result there may be few places that retain the open structure that the species appears to prefer for breeding (Garnett et al. 2011). Predation by feral cat Felis catus or feral pig Sus scrofa may also affect abundance (Garnett et al. 2011) although native goannas Varanus spp. are the only recorded predator (White 1922b). This species has low resilience to climate change due to its high climate change sensitivity and low adaptive capacity (Reside et al. 2015) and is projected to lose more than 80% of suitable climatic space by 2080 (Reside et al. 2012). The risk from the introduced cane toad Rhinella marina is low, as just 4% of its range overlaps with the toad (Beckmann and Shine 2012).
Conservation Actions Underway
A recovery plan has been prepared (Mathieson and Smith 2009) and research priorities identified (Webster et al. 2021b). Searches for the species are ongoing. A nomination to have the species uplisted from Endangered to Critically Endangered under the NC Act 1992 has been submitted to the Queensland Government for consideration and following this a similar nomination will be done federally under the EPBC Act 1999 (Webster et al. 2021b).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop a reliable means of detecting birds. Obtain a photograph and a sound recording. Obtain knowledge of the species distribution, life history and ecology. Determine habitat requirements. Determine habitat use and movements in wild populations using radio-telemetry. Understand the impacts of fire and feral animals on habitat. Follow up all sightings to record ecological details and attempt to improve knowledge of habitat management needs. Undertake fire management at known, suspected and historical locations, including storm burning. Determine an effective conservation management strategy for known populations.
18-22 cm. Large buttonquail with heavy bill and yellow eyes. Adult male predominantly sandy-brown. Grey crown, nape and hindneck with prominent black stripes along each side. Black-and-rufous barring on back and outer scapulars. Rufous upperwing-coverts with white spots. Adult female similar to male but brighter, larger and darker on face. Juvenile plumage unknown. Similar spp. Plainer and paler than other buttonquails. Distinguished from Painted Buttonquail T. varia by heavier bill, plainer breast and lack of rufous shoulder patch. Voice Female, deep booming. Male, whistles, chirrups and deep humming.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A., Garnett, S., Vine, J.
Contributors
Garnett, S., Kanowski, J. & Mathieson, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Buff-breasted Buttonquail Turnix olivii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/buff-breasted-buttonquail-turnix-olivii on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.