bobwhite

[ bob-hwahyt, -wahyt ]

noun

, plural bob·whites, (especially collectively) bob·white.

1. any of several true quails of the genus Colinus, family Odontophoridae, including C. virginianus northern bobwhite, distributed through much of the Americas, having mottled reddish-brown, black, and white plumage: the bobwhite gets its name from its whistling call, which sweeps upward in pitch as an easily discernible “bob-white.”

bobwhite

/ ˈbɒbˌwaɪt /

noun

1. a brown North American quail, Colinus virginianus , the male of which has white markings on the head: a popular game bird

Word History and Origins

Origin of bobwhite¹

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15; imitative of its call

Word History and Origins

Origin of bobwhite¹

C19: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species.

From Seattle Times

Northern bobwhite quail, which are roughly the size of a softball, have short legs, short wings and don’t fly much.

From Washington Post

The seasons for ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail are also in their final days.

From Washington Times

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that since 1962, the Iowa DNR has been doing a roadside survey of ringneck pheasants and other animals, including bobwhite quail, gray partridges and cottontail rabbits.

From Washington Times

It was a sound that hadn’t been heard in Logan County for close to 50 years - the song of a wild bobwhite quail.

From Washington Times