How do I tell male from female Coturnix quail?

For standard Pharaoh-colored Coturnix, sexing is easy once they feather out (~3 weeks):

  • Males: solid rusty/cinnamon breast feathers, no speckles.
  • Females: cream/tan breast with black speckles.

For solid or white varieties (where feather color doesn’t help), sex by other cues:

  • Vent/foam test: mature males produce a bit of white foam from the vent when gently pressed — reliable in adults.
  • Crowing: males crow; hens don’t.
  • Size: hens often run slightly larger.

Feather-sexing Pharaohs is the beginner-friendly path; foam-testing covers the rest once they’re mature. The solid colors trip a lot of people up — post a clear breast photo if you want help sexing a bird.