Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Also known as:Virginia Quail, Bobwhite Quail

Explore this bird

Identification

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".

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Mike Powers

Credit: Tim

Credit: Cuatrok

Watch and learn

2 videos

Bobwhite family at feeders, close

Credit: MassAudubonWellfleet

Bobwhite

Credit: Horatio Green

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 6 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird

result:289-northern-bobwhite:2:1 Source: 289 Northern Bobwhite, row 2

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird

result:289-northern-bobwhite:3:1 Source: 289 Northern Bobwhite, row 3

2 rules

Rule 1 6 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird

result:289-northern-bobwhite:1:1 Source: 289 Northern Bobwhite, row 1

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like ground bird

result:289-northern-bobwhite:3:2 Source: 289 Northern Bobwhite, row 3