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Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Bird · family Odontophoridae · order Galliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
37 states[3]
Longest recorded life
6.4 years[4]

The Northern Bobwhite is a bird in the family Odontophoridae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe records it as native in 37 US states and territories[1][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Northern Bobwhite G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Near threatened[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA[1]. NatureServe also notes a significant decline across its range in recent breeding bird survey data[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Near threatened
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Northern Bobwhite lives

NatureServe lists the bird as native in 37 US states and territories, including Texas, Florida, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia[3]. It is introduced, not native, in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington[10]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank SNAWIVermont: introduced, state rank SNAVTNew Hampshire: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SUMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S2MINew York: native, state rank S4NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2MAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S1WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4SDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S4CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4B,S4NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S1B,S1NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S3MDDelaware: native, state rank S3DEArizona: native, state rank S1AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S2TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S3NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S1DCOklahoma: native, state rank S5BOKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: native, state rank S3MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S3GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (44 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS1Critically Imperiled
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS4Apparently Secure
DelawareS3Vulnerable
District of ColumbiaS1Critically Imperiled
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS3Vulnerable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MarylandS3Vulnerable
MassachusettsS2Imperiled
MichiganS2Imperiled
MinnesotaSUUnrankable
MississippiS3Vulnerable
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireSXPresumed Extirpated
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaS3Vulnerable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaS5BSecure (breeding)
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaSXPresumed Extirpated
Rhode IslandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS2Imperiled
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
VermontSNANot Applicable
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WisconsinSNANot Applicable
WyomingS1Critically Imperiled

Habitat

Bobwhites use many kinds of vegetation, especially young, early-growth plant communities[13]. NatureServe records woodland, shrubland, savanna, grassland, old field, cropland and hedgerow, and riparian habitat[14]. In the south, open pine forests with varied ground plants suit them well[13]. In the Midwest and Northeast, they are tied to patchy land with crops, grassland and plenty of woody edges[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are about 25 cm (10 in) long[15]. They weigh about 178 g[16]. They eat seeds, other plant material, fruit and insects and their relatives[17]. One diet estimate is 70% seeds and 30% other plant material[18]. Chicks rely mostly on small invertebrates such as insects[19]. A clutch averages 12 to 14 eggs, and incubation averages 23 days[20]. AnAge gives a maximum recorded wild lifespan, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 25 cm (10 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 178 g (6.3 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 6.4 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[21] 15
Gestation or incubation[22] 23 days
Female maturity[23] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[17] Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[24] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[18]

  • 70% seeds
  • 30% other plant material

When to look for it

Bobwhites are active by day and around dawn and dusk, and they feed most in early morning and late afternoon[25][26]. They are mostly year-round residents that do not migrate[27][24]. Egg laying begins in April in the southern part of the range and a month later in the north[20]. On GBIF, most US records fall in May, June and July, which reflects when people look and report[28].

January: 13,315 recordsJanFebruary: 13,890 recordsFebMarch: 19,061 recordsMarApril: 54,279 recordsAprMay: 103,126 recordsMayJune: 95,584 recordsJunJuly: 64,011 recordsJulAugust: 36,711 recordsAugSeptember: 17,098 recordsSepOctober: 13,516 recordsOctNovember: 12,602 recordsNovDecember: 13,611 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January13,315
February13,890
March19,061
April54,279
May103,126
June95,584
July64,011
August36,711
September17,098
October13,516
November12,602
December13,611

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Bobwhite as present in 87 park units[29]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 63 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia[30]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Bobwhite endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it N5 (Secure) in the US, and the IUCN category it records is Near threatened[6][7].
Where does the Northern Bobwhite live?
It is native in 37 US states and territories, and introduced in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington[3][10].
What does the Northern Bobwhite eat?
It eats seeds, other plant material, fruit and insects and their relatives[17]. Chicks rely mostly on small invertebrates[19].
How big is a Northern Bobwhite?
NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[15]. It records a typical weight of 178 g[16].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Bobwhite is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Bobwhite: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Bobwhite as native in 37 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 6.4 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is a bird in the family Odontophoridae, order Galliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Near threatened. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe lists Northern Bobwhite as introduced (not native) in: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Northern Bobwhite as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: New Hampshire, Pennsylvania. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Bobwhite (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Bobwhite: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 178 g (6.3 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 70% seeds, 30% other plant material. EltonTraits 1.0
  19. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 15. AnAge
  22. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 23 days. AnAge
  23. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  24. NatureServe migration category for Northern Bobwhite: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on phenology for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  26. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on migration for Northern Bobwhite. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of Northern Bobwhite in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  29. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Bobwhite as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  30. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Bobwhite: Texas, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.