Bobwhite Quail

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, and travels in what are known as "coveys", groups of five to 30 birds that roam an area of 20 to 40 acres. As much as possible they stick to early successional growth phase ground, or to pine forests with thin vegetation on the ground, their natural habitat.

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.

During the mating season, beginning in mid-April, Bobwhite coveys dissolve. Eggs are laid and hatch after 23 days or so. After successfully breeding, the covey reforms, though if the first clutch of eggs fails for whatever reason, a breeding pair will continue laying eggs and continuing to try to hatch them until chicks are produced or until mid-October, whichever comes first.

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.