GAP Analysis Predicted Distribution Map

Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Species Code: COVI

Legend:
= Core Habitat
= Marginal Habitat

Breeding Range Map
The green area shows the predicted habitats for breeding only. The habitats were identified using 1991 satellite imagery, Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA), other datasets and experts throughout the state, as part of the Washington Gap Analysis Project. Habitats used during non-breeding months and migratory rest-stops were not mapped.

Metadata (Data about data or how the map was made)

Click to enlarge distribution map

Map with Breeding Bird Atlas records

Other maps & Information:

Breeding Bird Atlas
NatureMapping observations
during breeding season
NatureMapping observations
throughout the year

This species was introduced from the eastern United States and is locally common in the Puget Trough in grassy habitats.

Good habitats in the core areas of use included agriculture, and shrubby and grassy areas in the Puget Sound Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock, and Woodland Prairie/Mosaic zones, but restricted to the areas mentioned above.

Three species are known to have been introduced to Washington, C. v. virginianus, C. v. texanus, and C. v. taylori. It has been noted that Northern Bobwhites were probably first introduced to Washington on Whidbey Island in 1871, and that birds of the C.v. texanus race were the least successful. Northern Bobwhites formerly occurred in southeastern Washington, where they were introduced in Walla Walla valley in 1920. In following years, their numbers increased to an apparently healthy population for several years, but have declined drastically in recent years. A single male that was noted in Walla Walla in 1988 is the last known record of this species from this area. The harsh winter in 1992 seems to have finished them off. Northern Bobwhites were introduced to the Wenas Creek region, but failed to establish a population here. The highly variable nature of bobwhite introductions makes their distribution difficult to predict. In some years, they are numerous in areas outside the distribution. However, these are transient numbers, and the apparently self-sustaining populations are those depicted on the map. Birds are continually introduced, especially in agricultural and low-density development cover types, so individuals that are unlikely to reproduce successfully are liable to be seen almost anywhere in the state in these habitat types.

Translated from the Washington Gap Analysis Bird Volume by Uchenna Bright
Text edited by Gussie Litwer
Webpage designed by Dave Lester