Northern Bobwhite Photo Gallery
Male (Eastern)
Distinctive small quail with short crest or peak to the head. Strong black-and-white striped face with brown crown and white throat. Rich chestnut upperparts with brown-and-white-scaled underparts.
© Jeff Maw / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 20, 2015Female (Eastern)
Small, plump quail striped and speckled overall with black, brown, and white. Females have buffy throat and stripe over the eye.
© Kraig Cawley / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 29, 2019Female
Eats mostly seeds and leaves, which they pick off the ground or from low plants.
© Gregory Griffith / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 01, 1994Not all videos have soundMale (Masked)
In "Masked" subspecies of southwestern U.S. and Mexico, male has black head with solid rufous or chestnut underparts.
© Jan Hansen / Macaulay LibraryChiapas, May 24, 2016Male
Sings a clear bob-white often from an elevated perch.
© Gregory Griffith / Macaulay LibraryKansas, May 01, 1990Not all videos have soundFemale (Eastern)
Small quail usually found on the ground in dense grassy or brushy areas; can be easier to find when they venture onto or cross roads. Females have buffy stripe over eye and throat; may show a short raised crest as males do.
© Cory Gregory / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, June 07, 2017Male with Western Meadowlark
Found in agricultural fields, grasslands, open pine or pine-hardwood forests, and grass-brush rangelands.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 01, 1999Not all videos have soundMale (Eastern)
Small quail with striking black-and-white face pattern. Usually found in groups on the ground.
© Jody Shugart / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, August 08, 2014Male
Walks or runs along the ground pushing its head and neck forward. This video has no audio.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryNovember 01, 1994Not all videos have soundFemale (Eastern)
Usually found on the ground in dense grassy or shrubby areas.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 27, 2014Male (Eastern)
Small quail with short crest and striking black-and-white face pattern.
© Tom McElfresh / Macaulay LibraryOhio, June 19, 2017Male and female (Eastern)
Usually seen in groups known as coveys that include males, females, and young birds.
© Sig Olsen / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, November 05, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Quail(Order: Galliformes, Family: Odontophoridae)
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