Breeding Strategies of the Northern Bobwhite in Marginal Habitat

Authors

Willie J. Suchy, Chariton Research Station
Ronald J. Munkel, Chariton Research Station

Abstract

We studied nesting behavior of radio-tagged northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in south-central Iowa from 1984 to 1988. Female bobwhite incubated 78% of81 clutches where incubation was observed and males incubated 22%. On only 1 occasion were both a male and female observed to incubate the same clutch. Incubation was initiated on 73% of the nests by females before 1 July, while incubation was initiated on 56% of the clutches by males after 1 July. Males hatched 16% of all clutches, first nests by females accounted for 69%, renests for 4%, and second clutches by females that had already hatched 1 clutch for 11 %. Chicks from 3 of the first broods of females that hatched ~l brood survived for ~l week and were not accompanied by other adults. These breeding strategies appear to provide bobwhite populations multiple chances at recruitment in variable environments.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7290/nqsp03ist8

Recommended Citation

Suchy, Willie J. and Munkel, Ronald J. (1993) "Breeding Strategies of the Northern Bobwhite in Marginal Habitat," National Quail Symposium Proceedings: Vol. 3 , Article 9.
https://doi.org/10.7290/nqsp03ist8
Available at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/nqsp/vol3/iss1/9