New residents have moved into the zoo, domestic quails can now be found inside the small animal house. These fun and adorable birds are small and round with brown feathers and white coloration over the eyes. Males also have white markings on their neck. They are a part of the pheasant family Phasianidae. The domestic quail is related to the wild Japanese quail that lives in grasslands with dense and tall vegetation as well as river banks and cultivated fields, such as rice fields. Quails have become more popular as farm animals; domesticated for their eggs and meat.
Quails have great camouflage and it is more likely you will hear their calls rather than see them in the wild. Out of the native birds in Iceland the quail is most related to the ptarmigan and the water rail.
You can visit our new residents here at the zoo, we are open 10:00-17:00 everyday and the animals in the small animal house are fed at 15:45.
