Aim: This study was conducted to identify the diversity of feather color and to determine the relationship between plumage color and egg yield as well as eggshell patterns and internal egg quality traits of Japanese quails.

Materials and Methods: For investigating phenotypic diversity, a total of 600 quails from five breeding farms were evaluated to record head feather, shank, and plumage color. An on-station experiment was also conducted on 360 laying quails to examine the relationship between plumage color and egg production and egg weight during 24 weeks of laying. Eggs collected during this period were also used for identifying eggshell patterns and examining their relationship with internal egg quality characteristics.

Results: Plumage color was primarily wild-type, with the highest proportion being 56.3% (p<0.001). Brown color was also found at a relatively high proportion in the population (16.7%), followed by black color (11.3%). The egg production and laying rate of quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors also significantly (p=0.001) differed from those of quails with other plumage types. Egg weight was also higher in these quail groups, especially than that of quails with yellow plumage color. Four patterns of eggshell were identified, among which spotted and dark eggshells were predominant (45.2% and 43.1%, respectively); however, patterns did not affect internal egg quality characteristics.

Conclusion: Plumage color was primarily wild-type in both male and female quails. Egg yield over a 24-week laying period was superior in quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors, whereas a relationship between eggshell patterns and egg quality traits could not be established.

Keywords: egg yield, feather color, linkage, morphological characteristics.