King quail is 12–15 cm long, with a wingspan of about 25 cm long, and weighing 20–57 g. Males are distinctive, with a dark brown back and wings, dark blue-grey flanks and neck, and dark red-brown underparts; the face is patterned with a black chin with a white band just below on the upper throat, and black and white stripes below the eyes. Females are much plainer rufous-brown all over except for a paler belly