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Bobwhite Quail


Bobwhite Quail
Photo Information
Copyright: Billy C Banks (K9madtex) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 67 N: 278] (1022)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon 70 - 200 f2.8L IS USM, Canon 72mm UV Haze
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-01-25 8:49
Viewed: 5714
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this at San Angelo State Park birding area. Commonly know as a Bobwhite because it’s call sounds like it is saying "Bob-white Bob-white". It has such a distinctive call that I can remember my Dad explaining to me about these guys very early on.

The Bobwhite Quail, Northern Bobwhite, or Virginia Quail, Colinus virginianus, is a ground-dwelling bird native to North America. The name derives from its characteristic whistle-like call.

The Bobwhite Quail is a member of the group of species known as New World quail. This quail primarily inhabits areas of early successional growth dominated by various species of pine, hardwood, woody, and herbaceous growth. However, quail habitat varies greatly throughout its range which extends from Mexico east to Florida and north into the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

Bobwhites are distinguished by a black cap and black stripe behind the eye along the head. The area in between is white on males and yellow-brown on females. The body is brown, speckled in places with black or white on both sexes, and average weight is five to six ounces (145-200 grams).

It forms what are known as "coveys", groups of five to 30 birds, during the non-breeding season (roughly October-April). During the breeding season, typically beginning in mid-April, the Bobwhite coveys dissolve. Social pairs are typically formed between individuals of unknown relationship. These social pairings potentially result in the formation of a mate bond and subsequent female fertilization and egg formation. Eggs are laid at a rate of approximately 1 per day, and they hatch after 23 days. Eggs are normally white in color with a more pointed end than normal chicken eggs. Both males and females can incubate nests, with most nests predominantly incubated by females. If the first clutch of eggs is unsuccessful, a breeding pair (may be the same pair or a different pair as that which led to the previous nesting attempt) will attempt to lay, incubate, and hatch additional clutches. If the clutch is successful, chicks are precocial and will leave the nest approximately 24 hours following hatching. The breeding season continues until mid-October, and successful nesters (females) can potentially lay, incubate, and hatch up to 3 clutches.

Bobwhites were previously classed with the Old World quails in the pheasant family Phasianidae, but are not particularly closely related. They and the other New World quails are now given their own family, Odontophoridae.

The Bobwhite's song is a rising, clear whistle, bob-Wight! or bob-bob-White! The call is most often given by males in spring and summertime.

The Bobwhite Quail is a popular and economically important gamebird, particularly in the US Southern States. Habitat degradation threatens wild populations, so it is propagated in captivity in large numbers for release on hunting preserves or natural areas as required by US wildlife agencies. It is also found in many aviaries and is on display in some zoos. In the southern U.S., pearl millet has been identified as a preferred food source for Bobwhite Quail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob-white_quail
Jamesp, earthtraveler, jaycee, eqshannon, nglen, CeltickRanger, wahclella, Adanac, dejo, rcrick, angybone has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eqshannon: Fly Boy???K9madtex 3 01-25 20:31
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2008-01-25 8:54]

Hi Billy

Lovely shot - I like the lighting and the detail - excellent clos-up too.

James

Hi Billy, Fine job with this Bobwhite capture. You acheived great detail even with it backlit. Super POV/pose. Nicely composed though I would have left just a tad more space to the right of the bird maybe. Well done, TFS
Have a great weekend.
Richard

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-01-25 9:28]

Hi Billy,

Another bird I have never seen. We have the Gambel's Quail here in Arizona. The plummage is similar. Very nice details of the face and plummage. Good natural colors and setting.

Jane

Neat lesson plan Bob...I knew of the name bobwhite but was unaware of it being of the quail family. Having not really seen one before, I did indeed think it was a grouse..Way cool..nice image for a fly-boy!:-)
bob

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-01-25 12:45]

Hi Billy. Interesting notes to go with thefine close shot of the Quail. good detail and colours. with a nice POV. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Bill,
Beautiful composition of this Quail!
perfect sharpness, natural colour and so much details
many thanks for the most useful and informative notes
wishing you well
greeting
Tony

hello Billy

a great chance you have to shoot in photo such a beautiful bird,
superb close-up, excellent light on the foreground of the image,
his plumage is very detailed and he is camoufled too
with his natural habitat, excellent POV, TFS

Asbed

Hello Billy,
You must have taken your time to creep up on this Quail, or sat perfectly still as it approached you! Excellent lighting angle to highlight the feather's description, and that soft face is distinctly, Quail!
Have A Great Weekend...
Steve

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-01-25 19:02]

Hello Billy,
Fine image of this species with good colors and details, thanks for sharing Billy.
Rick

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 344 W: 51 N: 520] (2242)
  • [2008-01-25 19:13]

Hi Billy,
nice pic, great natural colors and very good pose captured
best regards, Dejan

Hey Billy,
Great shot mate, excellent backlighting and superb detail, well framed, amazing looking bird, nice work Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 586 W: 12 N: 1682] (6165)
  • [2008-01-25 22:02]

Hello Billy,
Awesome presentation of this Bobwhite, here in Arizona
we have its subspecies the Masked-Bobwhite, very rare
Great POV and composition.. Well done

Everton

I can never get close to these...they scatter like...well, a covey of quail! ha ha
Great shot ...nice and clear! Well done!

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2008-01-26 6:43]

Hello Billy, great capture of this Quail, nice bird, nice shot, the details are good and the exposure fine, well done, thanks.

Mario

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-26 21:10]

Hello Billy

A wonderful capture!
Excellent details and markings,the plumage shows well.
The focus is very good.
You managed to get a good close up of this beautiful bird.
TFS

Rob

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