THE BOBWHITE OR QUAIL 

 American Partridge Family — Odontophoridce 



Length: About 10 inches; the same length as the robin, but 

 the quail has a stouter body and a shorter tail. 



General Appearance: A plump, mottled brown bird, with a 

 small head, short bill, and short tail. 



Male: Upper parts reddish-brown and chestnut-brown, mottled 

 with black, gray, and buff; head slightly crested; 

 forehead and line, above eye white, line extending to 

 neck; black patch below eye, that curves to enclose 

 white throat and forms a band below it; under parts 

 whitish, barred with black, except upper part of 

 breast which is reddish-brown; tail short, gray, mot- 

 tled with buff and a few black flecks. 



Female: Similar to male, except for buff patch over eye and 

 buff throat, and less black on head, neck, and 

 across breast. In summer, the crown of both sexes 

 is darker than in winter ; the buff markings are lighter 

 in color. 



Note: Bob-white? Bob-bob-white? A very clear, sweet, musi- 

 cal whistle. 



Habitat: Grassy meadows and cultivated fields; farmyards, 

 thickets, and swamps during the winter. 



Range: Eastern North America, from southern Canada to the 

 Gulf Coast and northern Florida and west to eastern 

 Colorado. Usually a resident. 



In Florida, except in the north, is found the FLORIDA 

 BOBWHITE, a smaller and darker species. A quail is 

 called a partridge in the south. The California 

 QUAIL, one of several western species, is very differ- 



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