If you're thinking about getting into these tiny birds, the variety of button quail colours is probably one of the first things that caught your eye. Honestly, it's easy to see why. These little guys—which are technically Chinese Painted Quail—look more like animated golf balls than actual poultry, and the sheer number of patterns and shades they come in is pretty mind-blowing. When you first start looking, you might just see "brown" or "grey," but once you dive into the hobby, you realize there's a whole spectrum of mutations that make every bird look a bit like a tiny piece of art.
The Classic Wild Type Look
Before we get into the flashy stuff, we have to talk about the "Normal" or Wild Type. This is the look nature intended for them, and it's actually quite beautiful in its own subtle way. The wild type is basically a masterclass in camouflage. They've got these intricate brown, black, and tan markings that help them disappear into the grass.
The coolest part about the wild type, though, is the contrast between the males and females. The boys are the flashy ones here—they have a striking white "bib" or throat strap outlined in black, a rich rusty-red belly, and a bluish-grey chest. The females, on the other hand, are pretty much all mottled brown. It's a classic case of the male needing to show off while the female needs to stay hidden while sitting on eggs.
Silver and Blueface Varieties
If the wild type is a bit too "natural" for you, the Silver mutation is usually the next step for most keepers. Silver button quail are just stunning. Instead of those warm browns and tans, they're a soft, cool grey. Imagine a tiny bird the color of a stormy sky, and you're pretty close.
What's interesting about Silvers is that they can still have those male markings, like the throat bib, but everything is muted and "diluted." It gives them a very sleek, modern look if a bird could ever look modern.
Then you have the Blueface. This isn't actually a blue bird like a blue jay, but rather a very deep, slate-grey mutation. In the right light, they have this almost metallic sheen. Blueface males are particularly handsome because they often lose the white bib entirely, replaced by a solid, dark face that makes their red bellies pop even more.
The "Living Cotton Ball" White Quail
You can't talk about button quail colours without mentioning the Whites. A pure white button quail looks exactly like a cotton ball with legs. They are incredibly popular because they're just so bright and clean-looking.
However, there's a bit of a "catch" with white birds. Since they lack all the usual markings, it's nearly impossible to tell the boys from the girls just by looking at them. With almost every other colour, you can look at the chest feathers or the throat strap to figure out who's who. With a white quail? You're basically waiting for one to either lay an egg or start crowing like a tiny, high-pitched rooster. It makes buying them a bit of a gamble, but they're so cute most people don't mind.
Warm Tones: Cinnamon and Red Breasted
If you prefer warmer palettes, you're going to love the Cinnamon and Red Breasted varieties.
Cinnamon button quail replace the dark blacks and greys of the wild type with rich, reddish-brown tones. They look like they've been dipped in pumpkin spice. They still have the intricate "lacing" on their feathers, but the whole bird just feels softer and warmer.
Red Breasted is a bit of a misnomer because they aren't bright red like a cardinal. Instead, they have an expanded area of that deep mahogany-red that wild types usually only have on their bellies. In some birds, this red can extend all the way up to their chin. They look incredibly rich and are definitely a favorite for people who want a "fancy" looking bird that still feels somewhat natural.
The Fun Patterns: Pied and Splash
Now, if you want something that looks like it was painted by a toddler with a paintbrush, you're looking for Pied or Splash patterns.
A "Pied" bird is basically any colour—Wild Type, Silver, Cinnamon—that has random white patches. No two pied birds look exactly alike. You might have one that just has a white wing tip, or another that looks like a Holstein cow with big white and brown splotches. It's always a surprise to see how the chicks turn out when you're breeding for pied patterns.
"Splash" is a bit more extreme. These birds are mostly white with just "splashes" of colour here and there. They're chaotic and fun, and they really stand out in a planted aviary where a dark brown bird might just blend into the dirt.
Rare and Specialty Colours
As you get deeper into the hobby, you'll start hearing about things like Golden Pearl, Darth Vader, or Ivory. These are often combinations of different mutations that breeders have spent years perfecting.
Golden Pearl birds are particularly pretty. They have this light, yellowish-tan base with dark tips on the feathers, giving them a scalloped or "pearled" look. It's a very delicate appearance.
The Darth Vader (yes, that's actually what some people call them) is usually a variation of a very dark Blueface or a melanistic bird. They are almost entirely dark, with very few contrasting marks. They look quite serious for a bird that's only four inches tall.
Can You Tell the Gender by Colour?
This is the big question for anyone starting out. In the bird world, we call this "sexual dimorphism." For a lot of button quail colours, it's pretty easy.
- Wild Type/Cinnamon/Silver: Look at the throat. If there's a white "U" shape with a black border, it's a boy. If the chest is spotted and the throat is plain, it's a girl.
- Blueface: Look for the red belly. Males usually have a much more intense red vent area.
- White/Pied: This is where it gets tricky. If the bird is mostly white, you can't rely on feathers. You have to listen for the male's "crow" (which sounds a bit like a tiny squeaky toy) or look for a "vent gland" on the males during breeding season.
Choosing Your Favourite
When it comes down to it, picking out button quail colours is the best part of setting up your coop. If you're keeping them in a large, outdoor (protected) aviary, the brighter colours like White and Silver are easier to spot. If you're going for a more "naturalistic" look indoors, the Wild Types and Cinnamons look amazing against green plants and moss.
Keep in mind that while the colours change, their personalities usually don't. A white bird is just as likely to be a "bolter" as a brown one. They're all fast, they're all energetic, and they're all surprisingly loud for their size.
If you're planning on breeding them, it's worth learning a little bit about the genetics behind these colours. Some traits are dominant, while others are recessive (meaning both parents need to carry the gene for it to show up in the chicks). But even if you don't want to get into the science of it, there's nothing wrong with just picking the birds that you think look the coolest. After all, watching a tiny flock of differently coloured "bumblebee" quails running around is one of the most relaxing things you can do.