Habitat Needs

Bobwhites prefer a combination of open woods, thickets and native grasses and weeds that create an understory of sparse ankle- to waist-high vegetation. This allows food, shelter from the elements and cover from predators, while retaining the quails ability to fly away quickly in case of danger.

Bobwhites rarely range more than a quarter mile in suitable habitat. They require little space to survive, and feeding ranges of groups may overlap. They eat a variety of seeds and insects, depending on the quail's age and the season. During spring, insects are the bobwhite's primary food source. Throughout summer and fall, berries, seeds and insects make up the bobwhite's diet. By winter, insects are gone, and grass seeds and small acorns take over the quail's diet.