Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="colinus-virginianus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small New World quail (~195 g) of family Odontophoridae, males with a white supercilium and throat on brown-patterned plumage. Found in open woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural edges across eastern North America and Mexico. Forages in coveys for seeds and insects. Near Threatened; once abundant but suffering severe range-wide declines from agricultural intensification, habitat loss, and pesticide use.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 22.0 cm | 8.7 in |
| Weight | 196.01666666666665 g | 6.91 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Male has white throat and supercilium bordered black, chestnut back with black streaking, white-streaked rufous flanks, and streaked buffy-white underparts. Female similar but with buff replacing white.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident from eastern and central United States south through Mexico to Guatemala. Found in open woodland, farmland, and brushy fields.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, and invertebrates in North American grasslands and farmland. Insects critical for chick survival.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 23 days. Fledging: 14 days.
Clutch Size
10-15
Sound
Song
Iconic clear whistled 'bob-WHITE' or 'bob-bob-WHITE', rising sharply on second syllable. Covey scatter call is a loud 'koi-lee'; contact chips are soft and conversational.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Odontophoridae (New World Quail) |
| Genus | Colinus |
| Species | Colinus virginianus |
Distribution
Northern Bobwhite has been recorded in 18 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Northern Bobwhite eat?
Where does the Northern Bobwhite live?
Is the Northern Bobwhite endangered?
How does the Northern Bobwhite nest?
What does the Northern Bobwhite sound like?
How big is the Northern Bobwhite?
What order and family does the Northern Bobwhite belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Odontophoridae family