The Life Cycle of a Bobwhite Quail

The bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) stands 8 to 11 inches tall. The tiny bird weighs between 6 to 7 oz. Its feathers feature black and white spots with a reddish-brown background. Males have white striping on their faces with a black neckband. Females do not sport the black neckband, and their striping appears buff in color. The coloring affords the small bird with camouflage as it blends into its surroundings for protection from prey.

  1. Distribution

    • Found widely in the southern United States and parts of the Pacific Northwest states, the bobwhite quail comprises 22 subspecies. The birds have the ability to survive in harsh desert conditions or extreme winters. However, the birds often succumb to starvation in snowy conditions where foraging for food becomes impossible. They will also be found dead from dehydration beside bodies of frozen water because of their inability to drink.

    Nesting Behavior

    • The small birds live in large colonies known as a "covey." The birds pair up within the community and live a monogamous life. Nesting occurs in a wooded area. The birds will construct nests in a circular pattern so that their tails often touch as they lay on the nest. The circle offers limited defense against predators. The closeness of each nest allows the birds to more readily utilize body heat.

    Egg Care

    • Nesting occurs in the spring. Each female bobwhite quail lays 12 to 18 tiny eggs. The male shares in the egg gestation care by sitting on the nest. The eggs hatch 24 days after being laid. The male helps in every aspect of chick rearing. The young will remain with the parents and the covey for a year before they will break away in search of their own mates.

    Feeding

    • Bobwhite quail spend the majority of their lives on the ground foraging for food. The main source of their diet is a wide variety of seeds. The birds consume tiny rocks and grit from the soil to help in the breakdown of the food. They also eat greenery.

    Predators

    • The bobwhite quail is widely hunted by sportsmen. The quail are often raised domestically and than released for the sport of hunting. Dogs are used to aid in flushing the birds out of the tall grass so the hunter can easily shoot them with a shotgun. Dogs, skunks and raccoons also pose a danger to the bobwhite quail. Most quail live up to five years in the wild.