# Northern Bobwhite (*Colinus virginianus*) The Northern Bobwhite is a small, plump bird known for its cheerful calls. They have a beautiful brown and white pattern on their feathers, which helps them blend into grass and bushes. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Northern Bobwhite](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Northern_Bobwhite_female_RWD.jpg&width=800) Photo: DickDaniels ( http://theworldbirds.org/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_Bobwhite_female_RWD.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Bobwhite is a plump, rounded bird with a short tail. Males have a striking white face with a black crown and throat, contrasting with their speckled reddish-brown plumage. Females have a buffy-colored face instead of white, helping them blend into their surroundings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Odontophoridae - **Genus:** Colinus ## Interesting facts - Chicks can run and find their own food just hours after hatching from the egg. - Female bobwhites can lay huge clutches, sometimes more than 20 eggs in one nest! - Their iconic call truly sounds like 'bob-WHITE!', giving them their famous name. - These little birds can beat their wings super fast, up to 10-15 times per second! ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Cloak:** Northern Bobwhite has mottled brown and rust plumage that helps them blend perfectly into grasses and leaves, making them almost invisible to predators. - **Explosive Escape:** Northern Bobwhite can burst into flight with powerful wingbeats, allowing them to rapidly flee danger from ground level. - **Covey Huddle:** Northern Bobwhite can huddle together in a tight circle, sharing body heat and creating an alert lookout formation for safety. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-28 cm - **Wingspan:** 35-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.14-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-6 years - **Speed:** 72 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-16 - **Incubation:** 22-24 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores eat lots of different seeds, berries, and insects they find on the ground! - **Age differences:** Young chicks consume a higher proportion of insects for protein to aid their rapid growth. - **Primary Foods:** seeds, berries, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Hunts them on the ground. - **Eats:** [Common Ragweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-ragweed) (*Ambrosia artemisiifolia*) — Feeds on its abundant seeds. - **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — Gleans fallen grains. - **Shelter:** [Big Bluestem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-bluestem) (*Andropogon gerardii*) — Provides critical nesting cover. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Bobwhite? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Bobwhite? 20-28 cm ### What is Northern Bobwhite's wingspan? 35-40 cm ### How much does Northern Bobwhite weigh? 0.14-0.2 kg ### How long does Northern Bobwhite live? 1-6 years ### How fast can Northern Bobwhite move? 72 km/h ### What does Northern Bobwhite eat? These omnivores eat lots of different seeds, berries, and insects they find on the ground! ### Where is Northern Bobwhite usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Quartz Mountain Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quartz-mountain-nature-park) — Oklahoma, US · Park - [Bellport Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellport-village-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Goethe State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goethe-state-forest) — Florida, US · Forest - [Leesburg Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leesburg-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Sheepscot Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sheepscot-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District [View all places to see Northern Bobwhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-bobwhite) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Northern Bobwhite: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bobwhite)