Northern Bobwhite

Description: The northern bobwhite is one of the most widely hunted game birds in North America. This small, roundish quail is a mottled brown, rust, and tan, with a darker head and back and a lighter chest and belly. The cock has a face patterned with white and black, whereas the hen’s face is rust and tan. Average size: 9-10 inches. Average weight: 6-8 ounces.

Science: Northern bobwhites are found throughout most of the eastern United States and into Mexico. They like brushlands and open forests, and are better adapted to cold climates than other quail, though they can live in arid environments with reliable water sources. They spend their entire lives within an area of forty acres or less. In addition to numerous types of seeds, they also eat acorns, pine seeds, berries, soybeans, corn, and insects, feeding in the early morning and evening and taking cover in wooded areas, riverbeds, and ditches midday. They form coveys of up to a couple dozen birds and roost in a circle facing outwards to stay alert. In addition to a distinctive whistling call to regroup coveys, their call sounds like “bob-bob white,” from which their name is derived. Despite being efficient breeders, the population is declining, mostly due to clean farming techniques and the loss of their habitat to development.

Hunting: Northern bobwhites are typically hunted with wide-ranging pointing dogs, which pin down birds until the hunter can get close enough for a shot. Once the covey is broken, individual birds usually hold tight and can be hunted again. A specific call can be used to locate birds from a covey that has been broken up. The eating quality is excellent: the meat is among the best-tasting of all upland birds.