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Colinus

Colinus is a genus of New World quails in the family Odontophoridae, comprising four species commonly known as bobwhites.^[1] These small to medium-sized, ground-dwelling birds feature rotund bodies, short rounded tails, and cryptic plumage in shades of reddish-brown, gray, and white, often with distinctive markings such as facial patterns and crests in some species.^[2] Native to the Americas, species of Colinus range from southern Canada through the central and eastern United States southward through Mexico, Central America, and into northern South America as far as northeastern Brazil.^[3]^[4] The four extant species are the Northern Bobwhite (C. virginianus), Crested Bobwhite (C. cristatus), Black-throated Bobwhite (C. nigrogularis), and Spot-bellied Bobwhite (C. leucopogon).^[1] Bobwhites inhabit a variety of open and semi-open environments, including grasslands, brushy fields, savannas, and edges of woodlands or agricultural lands, where they rely on vegetative cover for protection.^[5] They are primarily terrestrial, foraging on the ground for a diet of seeds, fruits, green vegetation, and invertebrates, particularly insects during the breeding season to feed their young.^[2] Social outside the breeding season, bobwhites form coveys of 3–30 individuals that roost in tight circles on the ground and explode into flight when disturbed.^[5] Males are notable for their clear, whistled "bob-WHITE!" or similar calls used in territorial defense and mate attraction, giving the genus its common name.^[2] Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, lined with plant material, where females lay 10–16 eggs; both parents incubate and care for the precocial chicks.^[5] The genus has an extensive fossil record, with over 700 specimens known from the late Pliocene to the late Pleistocene across North America, indicating a long evolutionary history in the region.^[2] Particularly the Northern Bobwhite, species in Colinus are important game birds, valued for hunting and as indicators of habitat health in early successional ecosystems.^[5] However, populations, especially of C. virginianus in the United States, have declined significantly due to habitat loss from urbanization, intensive agriculture, and fire suppression.^[6] Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration through prescribed burns, shrubland management, and predator control to support these culturally significant birds.^[7]

Taxonomy

Etymology

The genus name Colinus was introduced in 1820 by the German naturalist Georg August Goldfuss in his work Caroli a Linné systema naturae to accommodate the species then known as Perdrix mexicana, a synonym of the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).^[1] The name derives from the Nahuatl term zōlin (or variants like colinicuiltic), meaning "quail," which was adopted into Spanish as colín and subsequently latinized by European naturalists.^[8] This etymology reflects early colonial encounters with New World avifauna, as documented in Francisco Hernández de Toledo's 1651 Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae thesaurus, where the Nahuatl name for quail appears in descriptions of Mexican birds.^[8] Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, further popularized the contracted form "Colin" in his Histoire Naturelle (1770–1783), influencing its use in North American ornithology before Goldfuss's formal genus establishment.^[8] The common name "bobwhite," applied to species within Colinus such as C. virginianus, originates as an onomatopoeic representation of the male's distinctive whistling call, which sounds like "bob-white" or "poor Bob White," typically uttered during the breeding season to attract mates or signal territory.^[9] This vernacular name emerged in early American English accounts of the birds, capturing their vocalizations as noted in 18th- and 19th-century natural histories, including those by Alexander Wilson in his 1808–1814 American Ornithology.^[9]

Classification and Phylogeny

The genus Colinus is classified within the order Galliformes and the family Odontophoridae, which encompasses the New World quails and is morphologically and genetically distinct from the Old World quails and pheasants of the family Phasianidae. This separation is evidenced by differences in skeletal structure, such as the absence of a notch in the tarsometatarsus in Odontophoridae, and supported by molecular data from mitochondrial and nuclear loci showing Odontophoridae as sister to Phasianidae, with Numididae (guineafowl) more closely allied to Phasianidae.^[2] Within Odontophoridae, Colinus forms a monophyletic clade in the Dendrortyx group, positioned as sister to Callipepla (scaled quails), with both genera successively sister to Oreortyx, Dendrortyx, and Philortyx. This phylogeny is derived from comprehensive analyses of ultraconserved elements and mitochondrial genes across 33 Odontophoridae species, resolving two major subclades: the Odontophorus group and the Dendrortyx group containing Colinus. The divergence of the Colinus crown group is estimated at approximately 5 million years ago, based on calibrated molecular phylogenies incorporating fossil constraints from the Late Miocene.^[10] Historical taxonomic revisions of Colinus have centered on debates over species boundaries, particularly involving lumping or splitting based on plumage variation and geographic isolation. For instance, early proposals suggested treating the northern bobwhite (C. virginianus) as conspecific with the black-throated bobwhite (C. nigrogularis), but subsequent molecular studies confirmed their status as distinct species diverging around 2.5 million years ago.^[10] Similarly, the crested bobwhite (C. cristatus) and spot-bellied bobwhite (C. leucopogon) have been variably lumped into a polytypic species, though phylogenetic evidence supports their separation as full species; overall, the genus now comprises four recognized extant species. No formal subgeneric divisions are currently recognized within Colinus.^[2]

Description

Morphology

Species of the genus Colinus are small, ground-dwelling quails characterized by a compact body structure adapted for terrestrial life in grasslands and shrublands. They typically measure 18–28 cm in total length, with body masses ranging from 110–255 g across the genus, though males are slightly larger and heavier than females, exhibiting mild sexual dimorphism in size. This size range allows for agile movement on the ground while facilitating explosive flight when flushed by predators.^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17] The head is relatively small and rounded, topped with a short crest in some species, and features a stout, conical bill suited for cracking seeds and foraging in leaf litter. Wings are rounded and short, enabling quick bursts of flight rather than sustained soaring, while the tail is notably brief and square or rounded, with 12 rectrices measuring 49–70 mm in length. Legs are strong and sturdy, supporting a primarily walking and running lifestyle, with unfeathered tarsi that provide flexibility in varied grassy terrains.^[18]^[19]^[20] Overall plumage exhibits cryptic patterns that enhance camouflage against ground cover, aiding in predator avoidance during foraging or nesting. These anatomical traits collectively support the genus's role as seed dispersers and prey species in open habitats, with adaptations emphasizing endurance on foot over aerial prowess.^[13]^[21]

Plumage Variation

Species in the genus Colinus exhibit plumage characterized by mottled patterns of browns, grays, and buffs that provide effective camouflage in grassy and shrubby habitats, with distinctive facial patterns including pale superciliary stripes or eye rings, and throats that are white, buff, or black depending on the species, enhancing facial contrast. Plumage patterns vary interspecifically, with differences in head markings and throat color among the four species.^[9]^[2]^[12]^[22] Males typically display bolder markings, including rufous crests, black facial masks, or chestnut throats, while females show subtler, more cryptic versions of these patterns to aid concealment during nesting.^[2]^[12] Plumage in Colinus undergoes an annual prebasic molt following the breeding season, typically in late summer from July to October, during which worn feathers are replaced to restore insulation and waterproofing ahead of winter.^[11] Juveniles possess a distinct downy plumage upon hatching, transitioning via a preformative molt in early summer to a streaked underbody with scaled or barred patterns that differ from adult feathering, aiding identification until the first full prebasic molt.^[11]^[23] Intraspecific variation across Colinus subspecies manifests in the intensity and hue of plumage coloration, often correlating with environmental conditions; for instance, populations in arid or open regions tend to have paler, grayer tones for enhanced crypsis, while those in denser, mesic habitats show richer rufous or darker markings.^[2] This geographic variation has led to recognition of numerous subspecies, with differences most pronounced in male head and neck patterns.^[24]^[25]

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

The genus Colinus is native to the Americas, with a broad distribution spanning from southern Canada southward to northern South America.^[12] The northernmost extent reaches southeastern Ontario in Canada, covering eastern North America through the central and southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America, while the southern range extends into Colombia and northeastern Brazil.^[3]^[4] Among the four extant species, the northern bobwhite (C. virginianus) occupies the largest area, from the midwestern and eastern U.S. (including states like Texas and Florida) southward through Mexico to Guatemala and sporadically into Central America; it includes disjunct populations such as the Cuban subspecies (C. v. cubanensis) on the island of Cuba.^[3]^[12] The black-throated bobwhite (C. nigrogularis) is restricted to the Yucatán Peninsula of southeastern Mexico, Belize, northern Guatemala, northeastern Honduras, and northwestern Nicaragua.^[16] The spot-bellied bobwhite (C. leucopogon), recognized as distinct following taxonomic revisions (Clements Checklist 2024), inhabits central Guatemala southward to central Costa Rica, while the crested bobwhite (C. cristatus) ranges from rare occurrences in southwestern Costa Rica and central Panama eastward through Colombia to northeastern Brazil.^[26]^[4]^[27] Introduced populations of C. virginianus have established in the western United States, including California and Oregon, primarily through releases for hunting and conservation efforts.^[3] Historically, the genus exhibited wider continuous ranges, but current distributions show contractions, particularly for C. virginianus in the southeastern and midwestern U.S., where populations have declined sharply over the past century due to habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization.^[3]^[28] Other species maintain more stable ranges without noted major contractions.^[4]^[16]

Habitat Preferences

Species of the genus Colinus primarily inhabit early successional grasslands, brushy field edges, and agricultural landscapes that provide dense understory vegetation for cover and protection from predators.^[29]^[30] These habitats typically feature a mix of grasses, forbs, and scattered shrubs, supporting the ground-dwelling lifestyle of these quail. For instance, the northern bobwhite (C. virginianus) favors disturbed areas such as old fields and forest edges regenerated by agricultural or silvicultural activities, while the crested bobwhite (C. cristatus) occupies dry shrublands and grassy savannas with similar structural complexity.^[12]^[31] Colinus species occur from sea level up to 2,700 m in elevation, varying by species, though they generally avoid dense closed-canopy forests and extreme open desert environments that lack sufficient cover.^[32] Populations are most abundant in lowland to mid-elevation zones where vegetation structure allows for easy movement and escape. The black-throated bobwhite (C. nigrogularis), for example, thrives in coastal scrub and pine savannas at lower elevations along the Yucatán Peninsula.^[16]^[33] At the microhabitat scale, Colinus requires areas with dense herbaceous vegetation and litter cover for nesting and escape, which is often maintained by natural or anthropogenic disturbance regimes such as periodic fires or grazing.^[34] These disturbances prevent succession to taller, denser woody growth, preserving the patchy mosaic essential for predator avoidance and thermal regulation; without them, habitat quality declines rapidly.^[35]

Behavior and Ecology

Species in the genus Colinus are highly social birds that form coveys during the nonbreeding season typically consisting of 10-20 individuals, which include both sexes and multiple age classes, often comprising related family members along with unrelated birds that join or leave fluidly.^[36] These coveys provide benefits such as thermoregulation, predator avoidance, and cooperative foraging, with optimal sizes around 11 individuals for maintaining group cohesion during the nonbreeding season.^[36] During the breeding period, coveys dissolve as individuals pair off or form small family groups, though some social structure persists outside of mating activities.^[37] Covey cohesion is primarily maintained through vocal communication, with birds using specific calls to reunite after separation and to coordinate group movements.^[38] The vocal repertoire of Colinus species is diverse and functionally specialized, including assembly calls that facilitate group reunions and alarm notes that signal threats. The characteristic "bob-white" whistle, primarily produced by unmated males, serves as a loud assembly call to attract conspecifics and maintain spacing within coveys, often peaking at dawn with rates of 60-170 calls per hour.^[38] Other assembly calls, such as the softer "hoy" or louder "koi-lee," are used by both sexes to reunite separated covey members, particularly after disturbance, and are most frequent upon awakening in the morning.^[38] Alarm vocalizations vary by threat type, including a soft "tireee" for ground predators that escalates to rapid "ick" notes if danger intensifies, and a sharper "errrk" for aerial threats; these calls prompt evasive actions and enhance group vigilance.^[38] Sex-specific differences exist in the vocal repertoire, with males relying more on the prominent whistle for social signaling, while females produce distinct contact calls like "tseep" during non-breeding interactions.^[12] Colinus species exhibit crepuscular activity patterns, with peak foraging and movement occurring in the early morning and late afternoon, while midday is spent loafing in cover to avoid heat and predators.^[36] As a primary escape response, individuals prefer to run in short bursts through undergrowth when disturbed, but will execute an explosive flushing flight if pressed, covering short distances of about 47 meters in 5.1 seconds before seeking new cover.^[37] This rapid, low-altitude flight is a key antipredator adaptation that minimizes exposure within the covey context.^[36]

Diet and Foraging

Species of the genus Colinus exhibit an omnivorous diet, with approximately 80-90% consisting of plant matter such as seeds, fruits, and green foliage, while the remaining 10-20% comprises invertebrates, primarily insects.^[36]^[39] This dietary composition is consistent across species, including the northern bobwhite (C. virginianus), black-throated bobwhite (C. nigrogularis), and spot-bellied bobwhite (C. leucopogon), where seeds from grasses and forbs form the bulk of consumption.^[40]^[41] Foraging occurs primarily on the ground, where individuals or coveys scratch lightly through leaf litter and peck at exposed seeds and arthropods.^[36]^[40] These behaviors are typically performed in family groups or winter coveys, enhancing efficiency in locating scattered resources.^[42] Diet shows seasonal variation, with a higher proportion of insects incorporated during summer months to meet elevated protein demands.^[42] Resource partitioning among Colinus species favors seeds from native grasses such as Andropogon spp., which provide reliable, high-volume food sources in grassland habitats.^[43] Agricultural intensification has reduced food availability by diminishing native seed-producing vegetation and increasing reliance on monocultures less suitable for foraging.^[44]

Reproduction

Colinus species exhibit a breeding season typically spanning spring through summer, varying by latitude and environmental conditions; for instance, in northern populations, it often begins in April and extends to September, while southern populations may start as early as March. Pairs form following the breakup of winter coveys, with social monogamy being the predominant mating system, though instances of polygamy occur in both sexes. Biparental care is common, including shared nest construction, incubation, and chick rearing.^[45]^[12] Nests are constructed on the ground, usually in concealed locations amid grasses or shrubs, and lined with plant material such as grass and leaves for insulation. Clutch sizes typically range from 6-15 eggs, averaging 12-15 in the Northern Bobwhite and lower in other species, laid at intervals of about one per day, with females capable of producing 1-3 clutches per season if the first fails. Renesting after nest loss or predation is frequent, contributing to their high reproductive potential. Eggs are pale white to buff-colored, and incubation commences after the clutch is complete, lasting approximately 23 days. Both parents participate, though females perform the majority (70-80%) of incubation duties.^[42]^[46]^[45] Hatchlings are precocial, covered in down and able to follow parents from the nest within hours of hatching, foraging independently shortly thereafter under adult guidance. Despite this high reproductive output, chick survival is low, with mortality rates often ranging from 30-50% in the first few weeks due to predation, weather, and food scarcity. This strategy of multiple nesting attempts and large clutches helps offset the high juvenile losses inherent to their ground-nesting lifestyle.^[42]^[47]^[48]

Species

Extant Species

The genus Colinus comprises four extant species of New World quails, all commonly known as bobwhites, characterized by their ground-dwelling habits, distinctive vocalizations, and adaptations to open habitats. These species exhibit variations in plumage, crest morphology, and geographic distribution, with some range overlaps in Central America where distinguishing features aid in identification.^[2]^[49] Colinus virginianus, the Northern Bobwhite, is the most widespread species, occurring across much of North America from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States to central Mexico and Cuba. It is divided into 22 subspecies, reflecting significant geographic variation in plumage coloration, such as gray tones in arid regions and brown in more humid areas. Males are notable for their iconic whistled "bob-white" call, a clear two-note phrase used in territorial advertising.^[9]^[2] Colinus cristatus, the Crested Bobwhite, inhabits open dry forests and grasslands from southwestern Costa Rica through Panama and into northern South America as far as northeastern Brazil. It features a prominent long crest on the head, distinguishing it from congeners, along with predominantly rufous plumage that varies regionally in males. This species produces a typical "bob-WHITE" call similar to that of C. virginianus, though often delivered in a more emphatic manner. Multiple subspecies are recognized, primarily differing in crest length and subtle plumage tones.^[49] Colinus leucopogon, the Spot-bellied Bobwhite, is restricted to dry open areas in northern Central America, ranging from central Guatemala to central Costa Rica. It has a shorter crest than C. cristatus and features spotted underparts in some populations, with males showing considerable regional plumage variation including bold markings. Males advertise with a loud "bob-WHITE" song during the breeding season, differing in pitch and delivery from related species.^[50] Colinus nigrogularis, the Black-throated Bobwhite, occupies scrubby woodlands and grasslands primarily in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, extending to Belize, northern Guatemala, northwestern Nicaragua, and northeastern Honduras. Males are distinguished by a striking black throat patch, chestnut crown, and boldly marked underparts with black V-shaped patterns, while females have lighter gray underparts with smaller markings. It has four subspecies, and males emit a higher-pitched "bob-wheet!" call compared to the more whistled notes of C. virginianus.^[51] These species show range overlaps in Central America, where differences in plumage—such as throat color, crest prominence, and spotting patterns—along with variations in call pitch and structure, facilitate species recognition. Genetic studies confirm their distinctiveness within the genus, with C. virginianus and C. nigrogularis as close relatives.^[2]^[50]

Fossil Species

The genus Colinus is well-represented in the North American fossil record, with over 700 specimens documented from Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits, providing insights into its evolutionary history.^[52] Colinus hibbardi, described by Wetmore in 1944 from the Upper Pliocene (Blancan) Rexroad Formation in Meade County, Kansas, is known from approximately 170 bone fragments, including elements of the vertebral column, sternum, coracoid, humerus, ulna, carpometacarpus, and tarsometatarsus.^[53] Osteological features, such as a larger coracoid (approximately 37 mm long) and more robust shaft proportions compared to modern C. virginianus (average coracoid 29.1 mm), suggest a build adapted for stronger flight, with transitional traits bridging earlier galliforms and extant New World quails.^[53] Colinus suilium, named by Brodkorb in 1959 based on fossils from the Early Pleistocene Arredondo site in Alachua County, Florida, is smaller-bodied than C. hibbardi, with elements like the scapula showing only slight size differences from those of modern C. virginianus.^[54] Additional material from mid-Pleistocene sites, such as Inglis 1A in Citrus County, Florida, confirms its presence in southeastern U.S. deposits during this interval.^[55] Colinus eatoni, established by Shufeldt in 1915 from a distal phalanx collected in Kansas, is of uncertain geologic age (possibly Late Pleistocene) and exhibits a size comparable to that of modern C. virginianus.^[56]^[57] The fossil sequence reveals a progressive size reduction in Colinus from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene, with C. hibbardi transitioning to C. suilium in the Early Pleistocene and further evolving toward the smaller C. virginianus by the late Pleistocene, reflecting gradual morphological changes in qualitative osteological characters.^[52]

Conservation Status

Major Threats

The primary threats to Colinus populations stem from anthropogenic habitat alterations, which have drastically reduced the availability of suitable early successional grasslands and savannas essential for these quail. Conversion of native grasslands to intensive agriculture, urban development, and monoculture plantations has led to the degradation or loss of over 90% of southeastern U.S. grasslands, directly correlating with population declines exceeding 80% for Colinus virginianus over the past three decades.^[58] Herbicide use and reduced prescribed burning further exacerbate habitat fragmentation, limiting nesting cover and brood-rearing areas across the genus' range.^[59] For the endangered Colinus virginianus ridgwayi (masked bobwhite), historical overgrazing in its limited Sonoran habitat, compounded by non-native plant invasions, has nearly eliminated viable populations in Mexico.^[60] Predation rates on Colinus species have intensified due to habitat fragmentation, which favors generalist mammalian predators like raccoons, skunks, and foxes that target nests and broods. In fragmented landscapes, nest predation accounts for 52-60% of losses for C. virginianus, with mesomammals responsible for the majority.^[61] Hunting pressure, particularly on C. virginianus, contributes to range-wide declines, with populations dropping 22% across North America in the past decade amid sustained harvest levels in the U.S.^[59] Overharvest historically decimated C. v. ridgwayi in the late 19th century, and ongoing unregulated hunting in parts of Mexico poses similar risks to remaining subspecies.^[62] Climate change poses escalating risks by altering fire regimes and increasing drought frequency, which disrupt food availability and habitat structure for Colinus. In the southeastern U.S., extreme droughts and heatwaves have reduced C. virginianus reproduction by up to 25%, as precipitation directly influences nesting success and insect prey abundance.^[58] Suppressed natural fires due to changing patterns lead to woody encroachment, while intensified wildfires destroy ground cover; extreme events like severe droughts can cause up to 84% population reductions across quail species.^[63] For C. v. ridgwayi, historic droughts in the 19th century, amplified by modern climate variability, continue to limit recovery in arid grasslands.^[64] Diseases emerge as significant threats in dense or stressed Colinus populations, with outbreaks amplified by habitat loss concentrating birds. Avian pox (Avipoxvirus) causes substantial mortality in wild C. virginianus, manifesting as skin lesions and diphtheritic membranes that impair foraging and increase predation vulnerability.^[65] Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria spp. protozoans, infects up to 36% of examined bobwhites, leading to intestinal damage, diarrhea, and high morbidity in crowded conditions.^[66] These pathogens, including helminths like Dispharynx nasuta, pose elevated risks during reintroduction efforts for subspecies like C. v. ridgwayi, where stress from translocation heightens susceptibility.^[60]

Protection and Management

Conservation efforts for the genus Colinus emphasize habitat restoration and targeted management to counteract declines in populations, particularly for Colinus virginianus and its endangered subspecies C. v. ridgwayi (masked bobwhite). Protected areas play a central role, with the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Arizona established specifically to support masked bobwhite recovery through captive breeding and reintroduction. This refuge, spanning over 117,000 acres, provides secure habitat with ongoing monitoring and habitat enhancement to sustain the subspecies. Similarly, conservation agreements in Sonora, Mexico, cover 3,200 to 5,000 acres of private ranchlands, fostering cross-border protection for remnant populations. Management practices focus on mimicking natural disturbance regimes to maintain suitable grasslands and shrublands. Prescribed burns, conducted in late winter or early spring every one to two years, control woody encroachment and promote the growth of forbs and native grasses essential for foraging and nesting, as implemented in southeastern U.S. quail management programs. Covey call surveys, performed from mid-October to early December, serve as a non-invasive tool to assess population health and evaluate restoration efficacy, guiding adaptive management in areas like South Carolina and Virginia. Quail-friendly farming initiatives, such as the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) CP33 buffers (30-120 feet wide), encourage landowners to establish field borders and reduce tillage, enhancing edge habitats while providing economic incentives through cost-share programs. International cooperation addresses threats to transboundary populations, with the masked bobwhite listed under CITES Appendix I since 1975 to regulate trade and prevent further exploitation. Reintroduction programs in Mexico involve collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mexican authorities, including the transfer of 50 breeding pairs to a new facility at Africam Safari in Puebla by 2014 for propagation and potential releases in Sonora's grasslands. These efforts aim to establish at least two viable populations in Mexico, building on historical distributions. Successes in population recovery highlight the effectiveness of integrated habitat restoration since the 1990s. At Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, efforts have aimed to recover masked bobwhite populations, which were estimated at 300-500 individuals in 1990 but have since declined; as of 2020, wild numbers remain low at approximately 200 individuals, supported by annual releases of captive-reared birds and habitat improvements like mesquite removal on over 1,199 acres.^[67]^[68] In Alabama, a 1,800-acre ranch saw covey counts rise from 2 to 74 after six years of prescribed fire, forest thinning, and field border creation by 2003, demonstrating scalable benefits for C. virginianus. Comparable gains occurred in North Carolina, where 15-foot field borders on farms doubled fall covey densities within one year, underscoring the role of private land management in broader recovery. In 2024, the USDA launched a Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project, investing in habitat restoration across multiple states to further support recovery efforts.^[69]

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[30]
Behavior - Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - Birds of the World
Little aggressive behavior occurs within coveys. Communicative Interactions. Vocal interactions are described under Sounds: vocalizations, above. Nonvocal ...Missing: papers | Show results with:papers
[31]
Sounds and Vocal Behavior - Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus
Given by both sexes. Calls are used in various situations as spacing mechanism, and to reunite separated pairs of birds and coveys.
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[PDF] Northern Bobwhite
Native prairie bunch grasses, such as big and little bluestems, sideoats grama, switchgrass, Indiangrass and broom sedge provide the most preferred nesting ...Missing: preference | Show results with:preference
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Diet and Foraging - Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus
Main Foods Taken: Vegetation, primarily seeds and some parts (especially leaves) of succulent green plants. Young are almost totally insectivorous.Missing: omnivorous | Show results with:omnivorous
[34]
Diet and Foraging - Spot-bellied Bobwhite - Colinus leucopogon ...
The Spot-bellied Bobwhite feeds mainly on grass seeds but also eat small fruits, insects and pebbles (39 Leber, K. (1975). Notes on the life history of the Spot ...
[35]
Northern Bobwhite Life History - All About Birds
BehaviorGround Forager; Conservation ... Arthropods can make up 5 percent of the male's diet and 20 percent of the female's diet during the breeding season.
[36]
[PDF] bobwhite quail foods and populations on pine plantations in the ...
Ground story plants known to produce seed used as food by quail (hereafter ... Broomsedge (Andropogon spp.) is an invader in the second-year stands but ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[37]
Northern Bobwhite - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Historically, land use favored bobwhite, but changes in how agricultural lands are managed, plus increased development has caused bobwhite numbers to dip by ...
[38]
Breeding - Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - Birds of the World
Incubation begins after last egg is laid. Female usually incubates (70-80% of nests), but males are also known to do so (20-30% of nests; Stoddard 1931. The ...
[39]
[PDF] Bobwhite Quail Fact Sheet - Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
The bobwhite nesting season extends from March through October with the peak ... The average clutch size is 12 eggs with an incubation period of 23 days.
[40]
[PDF] bobwhite reproductive strategies in
Individual broods hatched late in the nesting season may impact the fall population more than broods hatched early in the nesting season, because less time.
[41]
Cause‐specific mortality and survival of northern bobwhite chicks
Nov 27, 2024 · Bobwhite chicks hatching later in the nesting season have also been documented to have greater survival rates than those hatching earlier in ...
[42]
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Bobwhite/lifehistory
[43]
https://seafwa.org/sites/default/files/journal-articles/BRUNSWIG-96.pdf
[44]
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife/northern-bobwhite
[45]
Osteology of Living and Fossil New World Quails (Aves, Galliformes)
The study of more than 700 fossils of the genus Colinus shows a progressive trend toward reduction in size and gradual change in qualitative characters.<|separator|>
[46]
[PDF] Osteology of Colinus Hibbardi, a Plocene Quail
Jan 2, 2025 · The Pliocene quail species Colinus hibbardi was first made known by Alexander. Wetmore. His description (1944: 96) was based on two bone ...
[47]
Primary Type Specimens – Vertebrate Paleontology Collection
Jan 3, 2022 · Colinus suilium Brodkorb, P. 1959. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences 4(9):276; fig. 2. (Galliformes: Phasianidae ...
[48]
Two mid-Pleistocene avifaunas from Coleman, Florida | Bulletin of ...
New material of two populations of Colinus suilium, one early to middle Pleistocene in age (from the Inglis IA site in Citrus County, Florida) and the other ...
[49]
[PDF] Fossil birds in the Marsh collection of Yale University - PaleoArchive
It is nearly perfect, much worn, and has fossilized black like the majority of bird fossils from Fossil Lake, Oregon. ... digit of Colinus eatoni, sp. nov. ( ...
[50]
[PDF] Smithsonian miscellaneous collections - Smithsonian Institution
Colinus eatoni Shufeldt. Colinus eatoni Shufeldt, Trans. Connecticut Acad. Arts Sci., vol. 19, February. 1915, p. 70, pi. 13, fig. 103. Geologic age uncertain ...<|separator|>
[51]
[PDF] Northern Bobwhite, Grasslands, and Savannas
Major threats include 1) habitat ... “Looking beyond rare species as umbrella species: Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and conservation of grassland and ...
[52]
Northern Bobwhite Colinus Virginianus Species Factsheet
Colinus virginianus is resident throughout east North America (from south Mexico and west Guatemala through the USA to extreme southern Canada)
[53]
[PDF] Impacts of Predators on Northern Bobwhites in the Southeast
Predation, especially by mammals, is a primary cause of mortality for bobwhites, with 52-60% of nest losses due to mesomammals. Skunks, foxes, and other ...Missing: threats | Show results with:threats
[54]
The Saga of the Masked Bobwhite: Lessons Learned and Unlearned
The masked bobwhite Colinus virginianus ridgwayi was described in 1884 and underwent extreme declines in the USA shortly afterward due to habitat ...<|separator|>
[55]
Climate Impacts on North American Quail
Sep 19, 2022 · Extreme climate events such as severe drought, hard freezes, or excessive winter precipitation can reduce quail populations by as much as 84%.
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Conservation of the Masked Bobwhite Quail | U.S. Fish & Wildlife ...
The masked bobwhite quail is endangered due to a history of overgrazing followed by historic droughts in the 19th century as well as the introduction of two non ...
[57]
[PDF] An Overview of Disease and Parasitism in Southeastern Bobwhite ...
Avian pox is the only infectious disease (Table 2) of wild bobwhites that has been directly associated with significant annual mortality.
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Health status of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) in ...
Intestinal coccidia (Eimeria spp.) were found in 36% of the birds. Only three species of helminth parasites were found: Dispharynx nasuta in two birds, Cyrnea ...