The female is an unmarked pale colour below, and straw-brown above with white streaking; the male is similar but less neatly marked.

The little buttonquail is a small reddish brown bird with thin white stripes on its upper parts with a blue-grey beak, pink legs and feet, and pale eyes.

While superficially resembling the true quails of the genus Coturnix, the little buttonquail differ by lacking a hind toe and a crop.

The females also possess a unique vocal organ created by an enlarged trachea and inflatable bulb in the esophagus.

The little button quail nests on the ground in sheltered areas such as small shrubs or overhanging grasses.

The number of individuals remaining, the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, and known threats.

Therefore, this species is not classified as vulnerable under the conservation status: ‘Extent of occurrence criterion’, despite the fact that the little buttonquail population in general appears to be decreasing.