Northern Bobwhite

Overview

Northern Bobwhite: Medium, morphologically variable quail, most with unique head pattern of white face and throat, dark eyestripe, rufous-brown (eastern and Great Plains) or black (Florida) center stripe on top of head. Body shows a mottled combination of black, brown, rufous-brown, and gray.

Range and Habitat

Northern Bobwhite: Found in a variety of early successional brushy, forested, and agricultural habitats throughout much of the eastern U.S.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Northern Bobwhite is the official game bird of Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington.
It is divided into 22 different subspecies. Females show little variation among the different forms, but the males can vary dramatically.
The name "bobwhite" derives from its characteristic whistling call. A group of bobwhites are collectively known as a "bevy", "covey", and "name dropping" of bobwhites.

The Northern Bobwhite has a large range, including Cuba and much of Eastern North America. Native to North America, Cuba, and Guatemala but introduced to parts of Asia and Europe, this bird prefers grassland, forest, and shrubland ecosystems. The global population of this bird has not been precisely determined but shows significant signs of decline that necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Northern Bobwhite is Near Threatened.