Quail Nutrition Benefits and Facts

Nutritional summary

Quail is a lean protein source that provides a high concentration of protein relative to its weight, typically containing between 20% and 28% protein depending on the cut and preparation .
Quail meat is categorized as a nutrient-dense alternative to more common poultry, offering a similar profile of essential minerals such as phosphorus and potassium while being lower in total fat than many other domesticated birds .
While quail meat is highly nutritious, the specific micronutrient profile—including levels of iron, selenium, and zinc—can be significantly influenced by the bird's diet and the farming system used .
Early research into game meats suggests that quail, along with pheasant and guinea fowl, may offer a different micronutrient density compared to standard livestock, though evidence regarding its specific impact on human mineral status remains limited .

Interesting fact

In ancient Egypt, quail were so abundant during their seasonal migrations that they were one of the few meats regularly consumed by both commoners and royalty.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Vitamin B6

SUPER

SOURCE

Niacin

SUPER

SOURCE

Copper

SUPER

SOURCE

Iron

226

kcal per 100g

Protein25.0g

Fat14.0g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat3.47g

Monounsat4.87g

Saturated3.94g

Seasonality

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeakIn seasonOther months

Diet

PescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoLow FodmapPaleo

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

Quail have high feed-conversion efficiency and require significantly less land and water than larger livestock.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Refrigerate

1–2 days

Keep in the coldest part of the fridge

Freeze

3–6 months

Wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 1 validated source

USDA

USDA FoodData Central

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Unveiling the Nutritional Quality of Terrestrial Animal Source Foods by Species and Characteristics of Livestock Systems - PMC

[5]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary supplementation of nano-selenium improves reproductive performance, sexual behavior and deposition of selenium in the testis and ovary of Japanese quail - PMC

[7]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutritional Aspects of Eggs for a Healthy and Sustainable ... - PMC

[8]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of genotype and sex on carcass composition, meat quality, digestive system morphometry and leg bone dimensions in Japanese quails (C. coturnix japonica) - PMC

[10]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

55.2

Version

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