Buttonquails

Buttonquails are atypical shorebirds which resemble quails and inhabit grasslands. Difficult to see on the ground due to skulking habits and cryptic colouration. Polyandrous. Females are more brightly coloured than males. Two species resident in Peninsular Malaysia; one a rare vagrant.

  • Asian Dowitcher

    Similar in size to Black-tailed Godwit, with black legs intermediate in length between Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits. Bill largely black, straight and slightly blob-tipped.

  • Australian Pratincole

  • Bar-tailed Godwit

    Large, streak-backed shorebird with very long, pink-based, slightly upturned bill and relatively short black legs.

  • Barred Buttonquail

  • Beach Thick-knee

  • Black-tailed Godwit

    Small, neat, long-legged godwit with long, straight, blob-tipped, pink-based bill.

  • Black-winged Stilt

    Medium-sized black-and-white shorebird with extremely long pink legs.

  • Broad-billed Sandpiper

    Small, short-legged, stint-like sandpiper with longish, thick bill which droops at the tip. Bold head pattern in all plumages.

  • Bronze-winged Jacana

  • Common Greenshank

    Elegant white and grey/brown sandpiper with medium-length, slightly upcurved bill and long green-yellow legs. In flight, toes project beyond tail. From above, plain darkish wings and scapulars contrast with white back and rump and whitish, barred tail. From below, wing coverts well-barred.