7 Poisonous Birds You Should Know About - Page 5 of 9

European quail

Can quails be poisonous? Yes, the European quail is known for its beauty as well as its toxicity. Mostly known as the common quail, this poisonous bird is found in parts of Africa and Asia. This small game bird is streaked brown overall with a wingspan of up to 14 inches.

Unlike the birds above, the European quail gets its poison from hemlock seeds. These seeds have a toxic substance called coniine. Birds as young as four-months-old have been known to cause coturnism when consumed. Coturnism is muscle cell breakdown.