Northern Bobwhite

20-28 cm (8-11") Fairly common. Eastern and Central U.S.; introduced in parts of West. Farms, brushy open fields, roadsides, wood edges.

Mottled brown, plump quail with a short gray tail; throat and eye stripe are white in male, buffy in female.

Forms coveys of about 12-16 birds in fall and winter. Wary bird, when flushed, flies on noisy wings then glides to cover.

Song: named for distinctive, rising, whistled "bob-white" or "bob-bob-white".

Videos

Images

Credit: Mike Powers

Credit: Tim

Credit: Cuatrok

Credit: Vincent Lucas 2006

Distribution Maps

Northern Bobwhite distribution map

Northern Bobwhite winter distribution map