Name of game birds

In a recent editorial, the editor made reference to “bobwhite quail.”

The northern bobwhite is a quail, but unlike the Gambel’s Quail, California Quail, Mountain Quail, Scaled Quail and others, “quail” is not part of the northern bobwhite’s name. It can be called northern bobwhite, and bobwhite, but to call this bird a “bobwhite quail” is incorrect regardless of how many times you hear it or see it in print. To do so detracts from the responsibility to educate the public by providing the correct information.

The Arkansas farms may look the same, but not to the northern bobwhite. The native warm-season grasses have been replaced by exotic grasses such as fescue, Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, and other introduced grasses that do not support native insects, seeds or northern bobwhites and other birds.

JERRY W. DAVIS

Hot Springs

Jerry W. Davis is a certified wildlife biologist.