January 17, 2013 | 4 A quail egg is like a protein-filled, free
lunch, waiting on the ground to be spotted—and devoured—by a
predator. But the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) seems to
have mastered an impressive level of camouflage-manipulating
behavior to keep her eggs off the menu. Female Japanese quails
tend to lay distinctive eggs that are specific to each
individual quail. Some of the birds lay eggs that are deep gold
and half covered with dark brown splotches; others’ eggs are a
delicate pale yellow with just a smattering of gray spots. A new
study suggests that the female selects a nesting area that is
the best camouflage for her specific egg appearance before it is
laid. The findings were published online January 17 in Current
Biology. Camouflage tactics in the animal world often take
advantage of either blending—in which an animal resembles
elements in their environment, such as a walking stick insect,
for example—or disruptive coloration—in which a pattern on the
animal makes it difficult to spot