Field Guide/Birds/Colinus virginianus
| Bobwhite quail | ||||||||||||||
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| Northern Bobwhite | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Colinus virginianus |
The Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) is a ground-dwelling bird, native to North America. The name derives from their characteristic call.
The Bobwhite Quail is a member of the group of species known as quail. It is a popular game bird, particularly in the Southeast, forming what are known as "coveys", groups of five to 30 birds, during the non-breeding season (roughly October-April). Quail primarily inhabit areas of early successional growth dominated by various species of pine, hardwood, woody, and herbaceous growth. However, quail habitat varies greatly throughout their range which extends north from Mexico east to Florida and north into the Upper Midwest and Northeast.
Bobwhites are distinguished by a black cap and black stripe behind the eye along the head. The area in between is white on males and yellow-brown on females. The body is brown, speckled in places with black or white on both sexes, and average weight is five to six ounces (145-200 grams).
During the breeding season, typically beginning in mid-April, Bobwhite coveys dissolve. Eggs are laid at a rate of approximately 1 per day, and they hatch after 23 days. Both males and females incubate nests. If the first clutch of eggs is unsuccesful, a breeding pair will attempt to lay, incubate, and hatch additional clutches. If the clutch is succesul, chicks are altricial and will leave the nest approximately 24 hours following hatching. The breeding season continues until mid-October, and succesful nesters (females) can potentially lay, incubate, and hatch up to 3 clutches.
Bobwhites were previously classed with the Old World quails in the pheasant family Phasianidae, but are not particularly closely related and are now given their own family, Odontophoridae.
