Northern Bobwhite

Virginia Quail (Colinus virginianus)

The Virginia quail (Latin: Colinus virginianus) is a bird of the toothed-bill quail family. There are 20 recognized subspecies. It is native to North America. Body length ranges from 24–27 cm, wingspan 36–41 cm, and weight 140–200 g. Plumage is brown with speckles, and the underparts are lighter. Males have white eyebrow stripes and throat spots, while females have beige markings.

Distribution

Its range extends from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, between the Atlantic coast and the Rocky Mountains. Virginia quail inhabit dense shrublands, grasslands, and open forests.

Behavior and habitat

Outside the breeding season, quail live in groups of 5–30 birds. At night, they roost in a circle on the ground in low areas, heads outward, to keep warm and detect predators quickly. When threatened, the group scatters in all directions.

Diet

These birds feed on a variety of plant seeds.