Bird Guide

Northern Bobwhite vs Spot-bellied Bobwhite

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Medium172 gUrban

The northern bobwhite is a moderately-sized quail, and is the only small galliform native to eastern North America. The bobwhite can range from 24 to 28 cm (9.4 to 11.0 in) in length with a 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) wingspan. As indicated by body mass, weights increase in birds found further north, as corresponds to Bergmann's rule. In Mexico, northern bobwhites weigh from 129 to 159 g (4.6 to 5.6 oz) whereas in the north they average 170 to 173 g (6.0 to 6.1 oz) and large males can attain as much as 255 g (9.0 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 9.7 to 11.7 cm (3.8 to 4.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cody Stricker · CC BY 4.0
Spot-bellied Bobwhite (Colinus leucopogon)

Spot-bellied Bobwhite

Colinus leucopogon

Medium129 gForest

This species is 22–24 cm long and shows geographically variable male plumage amongst its six subspecies. All forms have a brown back with black spotting on the nape. The head has a white supercilium, a dark line through the eye, a white or brown throat and a short crest. The lower belly is spotted but the rest of the underparts are pale, entirely spotted, or spotted with a rufous chest depending on the subspecies. The male weighs 140 g on average. The female is duller than the male with a buff supercilium and mottled throat; her average weight is 115 g.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Spot-bellied Bobwhite
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Song · El Zamorano, San Antonio de Oriente, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Anthony Mora Aguilar · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Northern Bobwhite and Spot-bellied Bobwhite.