The only native quail in the east. Its whistled bob-white! call is a familiar sound in spring in farmland and brushy pastures. The birds are heard more often than seen; although not especially shy, they often keep within dense low cover. A very popular hobby is raising quail, and the Northern Bobwhite is one of the most popular of all. A truly multi-purposed bird, they are excellent flyers so are very popular with hunters and those who train dogs for hunting. Their meat is a delicacy served in the finest restaurants.

They are a prolific breeder and layers of a small, chalky white egg that takes 23-24 days to hatch. The chicks are very lively and fast right out of the egg so care must be taken when removing them from the incubator, lest they jump out and hit the floor running!