Button Quail vs Coturnix Quail
Which Quail Is Right for You?
Quick Look
Button quail and Coturnix quail are completely different species.
Button quail are ornamental birds that excel in aviaries and as companion birds.
Coturnix quail are raised primarily for eggs, meat, and breeding.
Button quail require different housing, equipment, and management than Coturnix.
At Bryant's Roost, I raise both because they each fill a completely different role.
Direct Answer
Although people often group them together because they're both called "quail," button quail and Coturnix quail have very little in common beyond their size. They are different species with different purposes, behaviors, housing requirements, and management needs. If your goal is fresh eggs or meat production, Coturnix are usually the better choice. If you want colorful, entertaining birds for an aviary or indoor flight cage, button quail are hard to beat.
At a Glance
Button Quail
Ornamental bird
Tiny size (about 1–2 ounces)
Best for aviaries and companion birds
Small eggs
Ground-dwelling
Excellent in mixed-species aviaries
Coturnix Quail
Production bird
Much larger (10–16+ ounces depending on line)
Raised for eggs and meat
Large, edible eggs
Excellent feed efficiency
Best housed separately from button quail
They Aren't Just Smaller Coturnix
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that button quail are simply miniature Coturnix. They aren't.
They behave differently, eat differently, mature differently, and even interact with their environment differently.
Coturnix spend much of their day moving between feeders, waterers, and nest areas. Button quail are explorers. They constantly investigate their surroundings, slip under cover, scratch through bedding, and disappear into hiding places.
That's one of the reasons I eventually moved my button quail into colony pens on pine shavings while my Coturnix continue to thrive in a completely different management system.
Housing Is Completely Different
This is where many beginners get into trouble.
A cage designed for Coturnix isn't automatically a good home for button quail.
Button quail need cover. They need hiding places. They enjoy dust bathing. They're small enough to escape through openings that would never concern a Coturnix breeder. Because of those differences, I don't manage their housing the same way.
Eggs and Production
If your goal is collecting breakfast eggs every morning, Coturnix are the clear winner. They produce much larger eggs and have been selectively bred for generations as productive laying birds.
Button quail lay beautiful tiny eggs, but production isn't why most people keep them. People usually choose button quail because they're fascinating to watch.
Personality
This might be my favorite difference.
Coturnix are practical birds.
Button quail are entertaining birds.
My button quail spend hours exploring every corner of their pens, taking dust baths, disappearing into coffee-can nest boxes, and investigating anything new I place in the enclosure. They're always busy. Watching them is half the fun of owning them.
Can They Live Together?
No.
Even though they're both quail, I don't recommend housing button quail with Coturnix.
Coturnix are much larger and heavier, and their management needs are different. Mixing the two creates unnecessary stress and increases the risk of injury for the button quail.
Each species does best when housed with its own kind.
Which One Should You Choose?
I usually tell people to start by asking themselves one simple question.
"What do I want my birds to do?"
If the answer is producing eggs for the kitchen, supplying meat, or starting a breeding program focused on production, I'd recommend Coturnix.
If the answer is creating a beautiful aviary, enjoying fascinating little birds, or adding a ground-dwelling species beneath parakeets or other aviary birds, button quail are probably the better fit.
Neither choice is wrong.
They're simply different birds designed for different purposes.
Jennifer's Experience at Bryant's Roost
Raising both species has taught me not to compare them as if one is better than the other.
They aren't competitors.
They're specialists.
My Coturnix are incredibly efficient production birds. They've been selectively bred for larger body size, egg production, and meat qualities. They have a job to do, and they do it well.
My button quail are something entirely different. They bring life to an aviary. They're curious, active, and endlessly entertaining to watch. They remind me every day that not every bird has to earn its keep by filling an egg basket.
That's why I continue raising both. Each species offers something the other simply can't.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Assuming button quail are miniature Coturnix.
Housing both species together.
Buying button quail expecting Coturnix-sized egg production.
Using the same equipment for both species.
Following Coturnix care advice for button quail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are button quail and Coturnix related?
Yes, they're both quail, but they're different species with different care requirements and purposes.
Which lays more eggs?
Coturnix quail. They were developed as production birds and lay much larger eggs than button quail.
Which makes the better pet?
If you're looking for birds to enjoy in an aviary, many people prefer button quail because of their active, curious personalities. If you also want edible eggs, Coturnix offer both companionship and production.
Can I keep them in the same cage?
No. I don't recommend housing button quail with Coturnix because of their size difference and different management needs.
Which species is easier for beginners?
That depends on your goals. Coturnix are generally easier if you want eggs and meat production. Button quail are a wonderful choice for aviary enthusiasts who enjoy observing natural behaviors and don't mind tailoring their housing to these tiny birds.
Related Articles
Complete Button Quail Care Guide
Button Quail Housing and Space Requirements
Button Quail Nutrition
Can Button Quail Live With Other Birds?
Coturnix Quail Care Guide
Recommended Product
Show Pro Starter & Breeder Feed
Whether I’m feeding button quail or Coturnix, I believe nutrition starts with a quality feed. I use Show Pro feeds for both species, selecting the appropriate formula for their age and purpose because I've been consistently happy with the results in my own breeding programs.
Sources
Bryant's Roost experience raising both button quail and Coturnix quail.
Current avian husbandry references for ornamental and production quail.
Published literature on quail management and breeding.
From Bryant's Roost
If you've read several articles in this Button Quail Library, you've probably noticed a theme: I don't try to make button quail into miniature Coturnix. I let them be what they are. The same is true for my Coturnix. Understanding each species on its own terms has made me a better breeder and has helped my birds thrive. My hope is that these articles help you choose the quail that best matches your goals, so both you and your birds can be successful from the very beginning.