Image Gallery: Northern Bobwhite

January 6, 2015

Yesterday while searching for a pair of great horned owls I had seen recently on a dead end road near Heart Island Conservation Area, I saw a covey of a half-dozen or so northern bobwhite scurry across the road and begin picking their way up the roadside towards me.  I parked and waited.  For about 5 minutes I was able to watch and photograph these beautiful little fowl as they worked past me, only mildly wary of my presence.

My first shot was of this male that cautiously worked his way up the road  margin towards me.  He was clearly aware of my presence, but didn't seem overly concerned about the blue Accord sitting in the road.

My first shot was of this male that cautiously worked his way up the road margin towards me. He was clearly aware of my presence, but didn’t seem overly concerned about the blue Accord sitting in the road.

NOBO_01052015-06_Camp Winona Road

The scurried dash of a northern bobwhite as it crosses open ground is charming.

The scurried dash of a northern bobwhite as it crosses open ground is charming.

The slightly raised crest indicates a bit of concern.

The slightly raised crest indicates a bit of concern.

Still, this male sat in the open watching me for a few seconds.

Still, this male sat in the open watching me for a few seconds.

At some point, something mildly spooked this male and he hunkered down, no more than 20' or so away from me.  Didn't try to run away though; just sat there for a minute or two watching me.  I would never have spotted this bird if I hadn't seen it before it froze.

At some point, something mildly spooked this male and he hunkered down, no more than 20′ or so away from me. Didn’t try to run away though; just sat there for a minute or two watching me. I would never have spotted this bird if I hadn’t seen it before it froze.

Whatever the cause for alarm, he got over it fairly quickly and resumed activity.

Whatever the cause for alarm, he got over it fairly quickly and resumed activity.

Most of the covey remained  deeper in the sparse ground cover of the sandhills habitat.

Most of the covey remained deeper in the sparse ground cover of the sandhills habitat.

Incredible patterning on the  plumage of these birds.

Incredible patterning on the plumage of these birds.

Females can be distinguished from males by their yellowish heads.

Females can be distinguished from males by their yellowish heads.

NOBO_01052015-44_Camp Winona Road

 

 

11 thoughts on “Image Gallery: Northern Bobwhite

  1. Bob Pelkey

    Superb documentation, Dr. Pete. While hearing this species “sing” throughout my lifetime I have only had the pleasure of seeing the bobwhite a handful of times, and photographing it on a mere two occasions.

    Reply
    1. petegmay@gmail.com Post author

      Thanks, Bob. They aren’t particularly easy to find in my area, and getting them in the open is even more difficult.

      Reply
    1. petegmay@gmail.com Post author

      This wasn’t actually in Heart Island, Tony. To be honest, I was never able to access the maps your students made using the software they provided me with links to.

      Reply
      1. Tony Abbott

        Well, let’s get that fixed! I should be able to draw those up for you on the Hansen lab machines and save as PDFs.

        Reply
  2. ee

    Pete,
    I like the new format and more frequent postings. I didn’t even know there was any sexual dimorphism in Bobwhite – that yellowish head on the female is pretty distinctive (and quite becoming).

    EE

    Reply
    1. petegmay@gmail.com Post author

      Thanks, Gene. Be careful what you ask for, my friend. You may start seeing Image Galleries every day. I’ll try to show reasonable restraint.

      Reply

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