Scarlett Coturnix Quail
A rich red-toned Coturnix built from the dark-family base with the roux dilute — one of the showiest varieties going. Naming varies between breeders, so buy the bird, not the word.
What they look like
Scarletts run a deep warm red — think Rosetta or Tibetan re-painted in embers — usually with the roux ruby eye. Males often shade richer than hens. In a sunlit pen they're the birds visitors point at.
How the genetics work
Most birds sold as Scarlett are the roux dilute expressed on the Extended Brown (Tibetan/Rosetta) family. Because that's a combination of genes rather than one mutation, different breeders' 'Scarlett' lines aren't identical, and crossing two of them can throw Tibetans, Rosettas, roux-wild-types, and everything between. Treat the name as a recipe, not a breed.
Sexing Scarletts
Not reliably feather-sexable; vent/foam sexing at maturity. Some keepers report males redder, but don't bet a breeding pen on it.
Eggs, size & production
Follows the underlying line. Several hatcheries run jumbo-selected Scarlett-type lines with respectable size.
Who this variety is for
Keepers who want the prettiest pen on the block, and color breeders who enjoy working combinations rather than single genes.
Before you buy
Ask the breeder exactly which genes their Scarlett line carries (E-family base? roux confirmed by eye color?). If they can answer crisply, you've found a good breeder for any variety.
Keep or breed Scarlett?
Show off your birds and compare notes in the free Quail Keeper Community — keepers post their coveys, hatch results, and honest line reviews. Joining also unlocks the Quail Keeper Max app free.
Planning a Scarlett breeding project?
Quail Keeper Max has a built-in color genetics calculator — pick two parents and see what the hatch should throw — plus pedigree tracking, breeding pair records, and hatch-rate stats so you can actually see which pairings work. It's the tool this guide's genetics notes come from.
Try the genetics calculator free →Free plan included · No credit card required
Related varieties
A note from one keeper to another: variety names in Coturnix are not tightly standardized — different breeders' lines under the same name can differ in shade, size, and how crosses behave, and several newer varieties are still being mapped by the breeding community. Treat this guide as a working keeper's reference, buy from breeders who know their lines' genetics, and trust real hatch results over any label.