Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Bobwhite
Colinus cristatus
Crested Bobwhite (Colinus cristatus) — Gamebirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crested Bobwhite (Colinus cristatus) is a member of the Odontophoridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 134 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Odontophoridae New World Quail
- Genus Colinus
- Species cristatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 134 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Odontophoridae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crested Bobwhite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Crested Bobwhite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crested Bobwhite (Colinus cristatus) is a member of the Odontophoridae family, within the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Costa Rica through n SA.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 134 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Bobwhite?
The Crested Bobwhite is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 134 g.
Where does the Crested Bobwhite live?
The Crested Bobwhite is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Costa Rica through n SA, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Crested Bobwhite belong to?
The Crested Bobwhite (Colinus cristatus) belongs to the Odontophoridae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Crested Bobwhite eat?
The Crested Bobwhite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Crested Bobwhite migrate?
The Crested Bobwhite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crested Bobwhite endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crested Bobwhite make?
1 real field recording of the Crested Bobwhite — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crested Bobwhite's range?
The Crested Bobwhite has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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