Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) COSEWIC status report: chapter 11

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Summary of Status Report

From historical populations associated with native prairie in southwestern Ontario, the bobwhite underwent a tremendous increase in numbers and its range as forest clearing took place after European settlement. From a population high in the mid-1800s, a slow decline took place up until about 1990. The main cause of the decline has been a loss of habitat as urbanization and modern agricultural practices have changed the landscape.

Numerous releases of pen-reared birds have taken place and are likely responsible for most of the remaining birds in southern Ontario, except in the Aylmer and Chatham areas in the southwest. Here the birds are still considered to be surviving wild stock. A mail survey suggested that populations may have declined to only about 185 birds in only 16 coveys in the late 1980s (Hunter 1990).

The estimates of numbers at that time were based only on the mail survey. Apparently many landowners have bobwhite on their places and do not know it (R. Ludolph, pers. comm.). There are also areas where many birds would be missed, or no accurate numbers would have been available.

However, atlassing results and other observations suggest that natural, viable populations now exist in Canada only on Walpole Island.  Surveys done on Walpole Island in 1999 and 2000 suggest a population of about 230 birds there. 

Habitat loss to intensive agriculture and urbanization have resulted in declines through the 20th century.  In the western Lambton County area where survival seems to have been high, there is good winter habitat and efforts are under way to provide more habitat that would provide higher winter survival, as well as enhanced summer reproductive potential.