Common Quail Coturnix coturnix with an extra primary feather

ABSTRACT Common Quail is a migratory game bird with a very distinct primary and secondary moult sequence, particularly due to its early development in the first year of life. The ringing of 2338 individuals and the study of 825 hunting specimens allowed for the completion of ‘inactive’ and ‘active’ moult cards, respectively, from 2000 to 2025. A single case was observed involving a young male in its first calendar year (Euring code 3) with an abnormal 11 primary feathers in the right wing. Two years later, it was recaptured as an adult, still exhibiting 11 primaries, which had been renewed during a complete post-nuptial moult. The anomaly was asymmetric, as the left wing had the usual 10 primaries. This is the first described case of such an anomaly in this species.