The birds beginning with letter q are drawn from different classes and therefore do not have similarities with each other. There is a gulf between their feeding styles, the way they breed and where they live, as well as their habitats. The only common thing about them is that they all belong in one family and almost all of them are flying birds. A good number of these birds are to be found in North and South America but it is also possible to come across them in Africa, especially on the western side of the continent, and these include countries like The Gambia, Nigeria and Cameroon, in which the Quailfinch Indigobird is mostly found.

Most of them lay eggs and incubate on them until the eggs are safely hatched. However, some, like the Quailfinch Indigo, are brood parasites.

Quail

This is perhaps the only bird’s name that comes to mind when you think of birds whose names begin with letter q. Quail refers to a collection of birds that belong to several different genera, and which are classified under the pheasant family Phasinidae. However, the genus of New World Species that is categorized under the family of Odontophoridae and Buttonquails that is found under the family Turnicidae, are not closely related to the quails. The names are only because they are similar to the quails.

Quebracho Crested Tinamou

Also in the category of birds that start with letter q is the Quebracho Crested Tinamou, which is scientifically known as Eudromia Formosa. It is a member of the tinamou species and has a tendency to colonize dry forest habitats. It is mainly endemic in the South American continent particularly in Paraguay and Argentina.

Queen whydah

Scientifically known as Vidua regia, this small bird, which resembles sparrow, is also commonly referred to as Shaft-Tailed Whydah and belongs in the genus Vidua. The male members of this bird species are known to change their appearance during and after the breeding period.

Quetzals

These birds belong in the family of trogons (Trogonidae) and are mostly found in the Americas. They have strikingly bright colors that easily identify them. Initially, the word Quetzal used to be specifically meant for Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno, which is native to Central America but can now be used to refer to all the bird species that belong in the genera of Pharomachrus and Euptilotis.

Quailfinch Indigobird

This is a small songbird that is known scientifically as Vidua nigeriare and mainly breeds in Cameroon, The Gambia and Nigeria. It mainly occurs in localities that are isolated, particularly on the river flood plains.

Initially, scientists thought that this bird belonged in the subspecies of Variable Indigobird, Vidua funerea. It is a brood parasite which means it lays its eggs on the nest of other birds and leaves them to be hatched for it. It lays its eggs in the nest of African Quailfinch which is also known scientifically as Ortygospiza atricollis. It is not known to destroy the eggs of the host.