April 24, 2016 - Texas - Bobwhite

These Northern Bobwhite photos were taken in February at Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas. I was attending an Alan Murphy bird photography workshop and it was a great experience. The white feathers on the face and throat identify this one as a male.

BobwhiteNorthernmaleLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160218

This is a female Bobwhite; notice the tan feathers on the face and throat.

BobwhiteNorthernfemaleLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160218

During nesting season, male and female Bobwhite share parenting duties. They build a nest together; both of them incubate the 12 to 16 eggs, and both take responsibility for watching over the chicks after they hatch.

BobwhiteNorthernmaleandfemaleLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160220

Bobwhite are 10 inches long with a wingspan of 14 to 16 inches. In the United States, they live year-round in the southeastern states. Their range extends to the eastern edge of New Mexico and to the southern parts of Iowa.

BobwhiteNorthernmalesLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160218

When a Bobwhite calls, you’d think it was saying its name. It calls “bob-WHITE” with the second syllable much louder and at a higher pitch. A Bobwhite is more often heard than seen because it likes to stay in low, dense cover. It is a game bird so it has good reasons to stay hidden from people.

BobwhiteNorthernfemaleLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160220

Bobwhite are in the quail family but are usually the only members of that family in their range. As a result, people often just call them quail.

I have more Bobwhite photos in my “Texas Photography Workshop” gallery. Here's a link to that gallery. When you get there, click on the Bobwhite photo. http://www.earlorfphotos.com/Trips/Texas-Photo-Workshop-Feb-2016/n-4pq9dr

BobwhiteNortherngroupLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160218