Bobwhite Quail
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222856851
2008-07-01T13:18:57Z
Blackangel25
5039225
/* Ecology */
{{Taxobox
| name = Northern Bobwhite
| image = Virginiawachtel 2007-06-16 065.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Adult male
| status = NT
| status_system = iucn3.1
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Aves]]
| subclassis = [[Neornithes]]
| infraclassis = [[Neognathae]]
| superordo = [[Galloanserae]]
| ordo = [[Galliformes]]
| familia = [[New World quail|Odontophoridae]]
| genus = ''[[Colinus]]''
| species = '''''C. virginianus'''''
| binomial = ''Colinus virginianus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)
| subdivision_ranks = [[Subspecies]]
| subdivision = About 2 dozen
}}
The '''Northern Bobwhite''', '''Virginia Quail''' or (in its home range) '''Bobwhite Quail''' ('''''Colinus virginianus''''') is a ground-dwelling [[bird]] native to [[North America]] and northern [[Central America]] and the [[Caribbean]]. It is a member of the group of species known as New World quails ([[Odontophoridae]]). They were initially placed with the Old World quails in the pheasant [[family (biology)|family]] ([[Phasianidae]]), but are not particularly closely related. The name "[[Colinus|bobwhite]]" derives from its characteristic whistling call.
==Description==
[[Image:Colinus virginianusAAP040CA.jpg|thumb|left|Adult male (above) and female, by [[Louis Agassiz Fuertes]]]]
Northern Bobwhites are distinguished by a dark cap stripe behind the eye along the head, black in males and brown in females. 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 (145-200 grams).
The Northern Bobwhite's song is a rising, clear whistle, ''bob-White!'' or ''bob-bob-White!'' The call is most often given by males in spring and summertime. Other vocalizations include a range of squeaky whistles.
{{listen|filename=Quey_bob_white.ogg|title=Northern Bobwhite calls|description=}}
[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Song/h2890so.mp3 Virginia Quail's "bob-White!" song]
==Ecology==
This [[fowl]] primarily inhabits areas of early successional growth dominated by various species of [[pine tree|pine]], [[hardwood]], woody, and [[herb]]aceous growth. However, quail [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] varies greatly throughout its range which extends from [[Mexico]] east to [[Florida]] and north into the [[Upper Midwest]] and Northeast. In the southern U.S., [[pearl millet]] has been identified as a preferred food source for Bobwhite Quail.
It forms what are known as "coveys", groups of five to 30 birds, during the non-breeding season (roughly October-April). During the breeding season, typically beginning in mid-April, the Bobwhite coveys dissolve. Social pairs are typically formed between individuals of unknown relationship. These social pairings potentially result in the formation of a mate bond and subsequent female fertilization and [[egg (biology)|egg]] formation. Eggs are laid at a rate of approximately 1 per day, and they hatch after 23 days. Eggs are normally white in color with a more pointed end than normal [[chicken]] eggs.
Both males and females can incubate nests, with most nests predominantly incubated by females. If the first clutch of eggs is unsuccessful, a breeding pair (may be the same pair or a different pair as that which led to the previous nesting attempt) will attempt to lay, incubate, and hatch additional clutches. If the clutch is successful, chicks are [[precocial]] and will leave the nest approximately 24 hours following hatching. The breeding season continues until mid-October, and successful nesters (females) can potentially lay, incubate, and hatch up to 3 clutches.
The Bobwhite Quail is a popular and economically important [[gamebird]], particularly in the [[US Southern States]]. It is the official game bird of the U.S. States of [[Tennessee]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and [[Washington]]. Habitat degradation threatens wild populations, so it is propagated in captivity in large numbers for release on hunting preserves or natural areas as required by US wildlife agencies. It is moderately resilient to hunting pressure, and locally can disappear entirely from [[overhunting]], as has occurred time and again<ref>E.g. Strong (1898)</ref>. It is also found in many aviaries and is on display in some zoos.
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors={{aut|BirdLife International}}|year=2004|id=54207|title=Colinus virginianus|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
* {{aut|Strong, Reuben M.}} (1989): North Greenfield, Wis.. ''[[Wilson Bulletin|Wilson Bull.]]'' '''10'''(5): 70. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/DJVU/v010n05/P0070-P0070.djvu DjVu fulltext] [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v010n05/p0070-p0070.pdf PDF fulltext]
==External links==
{{commons|Colinus virginianus}}
*[http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=175863 ITIS Standard Report Page: Colinus virginianus taxonomic details (includes subspecies) ]
*[http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/northern_bobwhite.htm Northern Bobwhite] Additional information, pictures, sound and video clips
*[http://www.gamebird.com/bobwhite.html Aspects of the natural history, economic importance, and propagation of the bobwhite quail.]
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Bobwhite.html Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Northern Bobwhite]
* [http://www.gbwf.org/quail/bobwhite.html gbwf.org - Northern Bobwhite]
*[http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/northern_bobwhite_info.htm South Dakota Birds and Birding - Northern Bobwhite]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i2890id.html USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter - Northern Bobwhtie]
*[http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/3701000.htm Stamps]
*[http://www.qu.org/content/habitat/nbci/index.cfm The Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative]
{{North American Game}}
[[Category:Odontophoridae]]
[[Category:Quails]]
[[Category:Hunting in the United States]]
[[Category:Birds of the United States|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Plains-Midwest (United States)|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Eastern United States|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of Mexico|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of Cordillera Neovolcanica Mexico|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Native birds of Eastern Mexico|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Native birds of Southern Mexico|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of Guatemala|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of the Bahamas|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of Cuba|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of the Dominican Republic|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of the Turks and Caicos Islands|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of the British Virgin Islands|Quail, Bobwhite]]
[[Category:Birds of the United States Virgin Islands|Quail, Bobwhite]]<!-- see also RangeMap/maps at www.natureserve.org (introduced species), etc. -->
[[pdc:Badriesli]]
[[de:Virginiawachtel]]
[[es:Colinus virginianus]]
[[fr:Colin de Virginie]]
[[ht:Kay]]
[[hu:Virginiai fogasfürj]]
[[no:Nordkrattvaktel]]
[[pl:Przepiór wirginijski]]