About the Northern Bobwhite
The northern bobwhite, also known as the Virginia quail or bobwhite quail, is a ground-dwelling bird native to Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, with introduced populations elsewhere in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. It is a member of the group of species known as New World quail (Odontophoridae). They were initially placed with the Old World quail in the pheasant family (Phasianidae), but are not particularly closely related. The name "bobwhite" is an onomatopoeic derivation from its characteristic whistling call. Despite its secretive nature, the northern bobwhite is one of the most familiar quails in eastern North America, because it is frequently the only quail in its range. Habitat degradation has contributed to the northern bobwhite population in eastern North America declining by roughly 85% from 1966 to 2014. This population decline is apparently range-wide and continuing.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | New World Quail (Odontophoridae) |
| Species | Colinus virginianus |
| Species Codes | norbob, NOBO |
| Conservation | apparently secure |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Northern Bobwhite belong to?
The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) belongs to the New World Quail family (Odontophoridae), in the order Galliformes.
How can I identify the Northern Bobwhite?
The northern bobwhite, also known as the Virginia quail or bobwhite quail, is a ground-dwelling bird native to Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, with introduced populations elsewhere in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. It is a member of the group of species known as New World quail (Odont...
Where can I report a Northern Bobwhite sighting?
You can log sightings of Northern Bobwhite on eBird (ebird.org) using species code norbob, or on iNaturalist.