Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      Any Cropland
   adjacent to:
      (Upland Brush or Lowland Brush)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Bobwhites are found primarily where grassland and cropland are interspersed with some brushy cover and woodland areas. Fencerows and brushy cover are important for bobwhites to escape from their enemies and to protect them from cold weather and heavy snowfall. The nest is well concealed in brush or long grass but exposed in at lest one direction. A canopy of grass and vines is woven together and the hollow interior is lined with fine grass. In the Atlas Habitat Survey, bobwhites were reported from hay and old fields, row crops, and shrub wetlands. Observations in row crops are probably associated with feeding areas whereas fields provide nesting and foraging habitat. Shrub wetlands are probably used for escape cover and possibly nest sites.

Both adults care for the young until the fall when they join other young and adults to form coveys. The movement from herbaceous cover (that served as shade in summer) to dense woody vegetation (that protects from winter's bright illumination) is called the autumn shuffle. Bobwhites feed on insect pests in gardens and farms along with fruits and seeds during spring and summer. They feed mostly on weed and row-crop seeds during fall and winter. Farmers and other landowners can help the bobwhite by not cleaning fencerows and by planting dense low-growing shrubs near agricultural fields. Besides providing cover, a few unharvested rows of corn or soybeans along fencerows will provide food to help more quail survive even harsh winters.

Habitat: Breeding: Open pastures, meadows with abundant weedy growth, open woodlands. Favors cultivated and fallow agricultural lands with hedgerows and dense brush for cover. Avoids deep woods. Wintering: Prefers areas with an edge of protective vegetative cover; pastures and brushy open woods, cultivated and fallow fields.

Special Habitat Requirements: Edges, well-drained sandy or loamy soils, woodland (10-90%). Dense cover with 150 feet of feeding areas is essential in winter.

Habitat: Farms, brushy open country, roadsides, wood edges. Found in a wide variety of semi-open habitats, including brushy meadows, overgrown fields, or where pastures or agricultural fields are next to hedgerows or woodlots.

Diet: Includes seeds, leaves, insects. Diet varies with season and place. Eats many seeds (especially those of legumes), also leaves, buds, berries, acorns, roots, insects, spiders, and snails. May eat mostly seeds in winter, with more insects eaten in summer. Young birds may eat mostly insects at first.

Nest: Site is on ground among dense growth. Nest is shallow depression lined with grass, leaves. Grass and weeds are often woven into an arch over nest, making it very well hidden, with entrance to one side.