Northern Bobwhite
A round, secretive quail more often found by its clear bob-WHITE whistle than by a clean view.
Artwork inspired by Charles W. Schwartz
For Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), record the whole form before isolating details. For Northern Bobwhite, use “Bold facial pattern” for the first hypothesis and “Chestnut-barred flanks” for confirmation.
Place the sighting of Northern Bobwhite in context by recording “Covey” and “Calling peaks in late spring and early summer; coveys are most apparent in fall”. For Northern Bobwhite, the detail “Explosive short flight” makes the observation easier to check.
- State role
- State game bird
- Group
- Covey
- Best clue
- Two-note whistle
Quick guide
- Read the form
- Bold facial pattern
- Cross-check
- Chestnut-barred flanks; context: Covey
Field decisions for Northern Bobwhite
- Begin with structure
- Begin with Bold facial pattern.
- Challenge the first impression
- After the overall form, confirm Chestnut-barred flanks.
- Check when and where
- Search Covey, using habitat as supporting evidence rather than proof by itself.
- Keep behavior natural
- Leave Northern Bobwhite and its habitat exactly as found.
Good to know
For Northern Bobwhite, repeated quiet observation from one position generally reveals more diagnostic information than following, handling, or repositioning the subject.
Notice these
- Bold facial pattern
- Chestnut-barred flanks
- Explosive short flight
- Ground-dwelling coveys