Japanese Coturnix Quail

     The Pharaoh is the wild type of Japenese Coturnix Quail.  It gets it's name from the color pattern which originated in the wild.  Their feathers are of various shades of brownish-gray with black bars and a lighter color shaft to the feather.  Both sexes of the Pharaoh have a distictive whitish mark above the eye and across the face.  These birds mature quickly and can be sexed after three weeks of age.  The breast feathering of the male will turn a reddish brown rust color while the female breast feather will remain light in color with speckling throughout.  This bird in its original form is known to be the largest, fastest growing, best laying strain of quail.  Lab studies and breeding of these quail led to the Jumbo Variety and many other color mutations and patterns.  The photos below are all from  Stellar Ranch in Fort Myers Florida. 

The Jumbo Brown Japanese Cotournix Quail is the table strain of the Pharaoh variety of quail.  These are birds selectively bred for size and weight.  Alexandra Douglas of Stellar Ranch likes to breed her Jumbo Browns for the distinctive "Redhead" color.  The photos below are of some Jumbo Browns.  The first photo is of a hen weighing around 15 oz.  The second photo a Jumbo Brown Hen compare to a smaller Pharaoh variety.  The last photo is of a pair of Jumbo Browns with the cock bird on the left and the hen on the right.  Note the same color pattern applies in telling the difference of the male and female birds.

The Stellar Line of Pharoah Quail is a much larger mass bodied bird making it better for meat production.  Ms. Alexandra Douglas of Stellar Ranch selectively bred these Quail for larger size.  Some genetics from imported birds of the U.K. was used and the results are amazing.  Below are some photos of the Stellar Line of Pharoah Quail in comparison to other Pharoah Quail.  Wow!  What a difference.  HPBAA says thank you Alexandra for your hard work.