The term “quail” is used to refer to two distinctly different, though related, groups of birds within the order Galliformes. Old World quail are in the pheasant family, while New World birds are in the family Odontophoridae. While the birds may look superficially similar, they are fact genetically quite distinct; the reason that the name is used to discuss both groups is because early colonists were not terribly skilled at identifying wildlife, and they had a tendency to re-use Old World terms rather than coming up with more specific names for New World discoveries.
Old World quail are fairly small, plump, migratory birds. Most of them are found in the genus Coturnix, and they have been hunted as game birds for centuries. Because of their small size, quail are time-consuming to prepare, but many consumers think that the preparation is worth it for the delicate flavor of well-prepared meat. As a result, some species are domesticated and kept on farms for the purpose of ensuring a steady supply of meat and eggs, another delicacy.
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