Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Northern Bobwhites are mostly year-round… Look for Northern Bobwhites in weedy fie… Uncommon Classic whistle

Learn to identify the Northern Bobwhite by ear. Master the "bob-WHITE!" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“bob-WHITE!”

What the Northern Bobwhite sounds like

A chunky little quail that spends most of its life on the ground, slipping through grass and brush like a wind-up toy. Males look crisp with a white throat and eyebrow, while females wear the same pattern in warm buff. When one whistles its clear, rising “bob-WHITE!” from a fence post, it sounds like summer in farm country.

“bob-WHITE!”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A clear, sweet, two-part whistle that rises and then punches the last note. It carries far on warm mornings and is often the first clue a bird is around. Often written as “bob-WHITE!”.

Don't confuse with:The Scaled Quail — scaled quail is paler and grayer overall, with a scaled look across the breast and back.

Where you'll hear it

Look for Northern Bobwhites in weedy fields, brushy pastures, pine savannas, hedgerows, and overgrown farm edges. They love a patchwork of low cover, bare ground, and seed-rich plants.

Spring is the season to hear males calling loudly from perches. In summer, families move through cover together; by fall and winter, birds gather into tight coveys that feed and roost as a group.

Similar species

Scaled Quail

Scaled Quail is paler and grayer overall, with a scaled look across the breast and back.

California Quail

California Quail has a forward-drooping topknot that Northern Bobwhite never shows.

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse is much larger and chunkier, with a broader tail and heavier body.

Northern Bobwhite sound FAQ

What does a Northern Bobwhite sound like?

A clear, sweet, two-part whistle that rises and then punches the last note. It carries far on warm mornings and is often the first clue a bird is around. Listen for the "bob-WHITE!" phrase.

How do I tell a Northern Bobwhite from a Scaled Quail by sound?

Scaled Quail: Scaled Quail is paler and grayer overall, with a scaled look across the breast and back.; It lacks the Northern Bobwhite’s bold white-or-buff throat and eyebrow pattern.; Scaled Quail is more a bird of dry, open country in the Southwest..

When is the best time to hear a Northern Bobwhite?

Spring is the season to hear males calling loudly from perches. In summer, families move through cover together; by fall and winter, birds gather into tight coveys that feed and roost as a group.