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northern Bobwhite Quail
Colinus virginianus
26.3014, -98.1625
Field Notes
Description:
spotted at santa clara ranch.
Northern Bobwhite belong to the order Galliformes, which are birds described as "chicken-like" with feet adapted for scratching. Northern Bobwhite are much smaller than Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey. Northern Bobwhites are mottled-gray, brown, black, and white in color. Males are distinguished from females by their pure white throat and eye bands and females buff-colored. As in most birds, the female generally is more modestly-colored than the male. Identification tips are:
Length:
•8 inches.
•Small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird.
•Slight crest at top of head.
Adult male:
•White chin and supercilium.
•Black cap, eyeline, nape and throat.
•Reddish-brown body stippled with white and black spots
•Pale belly
Adult female:
•Buff throat and supercilium
•Dark cap, eyeline, nape and throat.
•Reddish-brown body with darker back.
•Black and white streaks and chevrons about underparts and back.
•Pale belly.
Habitat:
In the High Plains and Northern Rolling plains the Northern Bobwhite inhabit mostly native rangeland, woodland, and brushland ecosystems in varying densities. They prefer habitats with a mixture of grassland, cropland, brushy areas and woodland interspersed to provide abundant areas of "edge," which include the margins of habitats where two or more cover types come together.
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