One of my favorite sounds of a cold, crisp morning in the field isn’t my boots crunching on the still frozen grass glistening in the rising sun or the panting of an energetic and eager hunting dog. It's that unmistakable two-note call whistle from a bobwhite quail, sharp and clear as the morning air.
For us hunters, this isn’t just the background music for another day outdoors. It’s a beacon, telling you where a covey may be holding tight to cover in the fence rows or spread out in the broomweed, ready for you to flush them out.
Learning to speak their language can be the trick you need to help fill your game vest on your next upland hunt. Let's talk about calling quail, including how to do it and the types of calls hunters need to know.
Can You Call Quail?
Yes!
All species of quail are vocal groups of birds and can be called using specific sounds that mimic their natural vocalizations. Quail make various sounds for communication within the flock, from warning each other of predators to helping guide their young and keeping the flock together.
Both hunters and birders use quail calls to help locate or draw them into view. For calling quail, hunters can use homemade and commercially produced mouth-blown calls and electronic recordings (depending on what's legal in your area).
What Sound Does a Quail Make?
What are the different types of quail calls and sounds? Calls vary by species and have differences in their complexity and purpose.
Bob-White Whistle
The most familiar to hunters throughout a majority of the Midwest is the famous “bob-white” whistle from the Northern Bobwhite. Both male and female Bobwhite give a two-noted call that rises in pitch.
"Chi-ca-go" Whistle
The California quail, also known as the valley quail, has a song consisting of a sharp, three-noted “Chi-ca-go” whistle. The call lasts about a second, but can roll on ten times or more in a row.
Birds use it when they’ve drifted from the covey, or when the group is on the move, to keep together.
"Tuck-too" Call
Scaled (or Blue) quail make a rhythmic and nasally "tuck-too" call used by both sexes to keep in touch with one another, with the second note dropping in tone after the first. Males in search of a mate can also be found making a shrieking “whock” sound, from an elevated perch such as a fence post or mesquite tree.
Other Sounds
But wait, there are more types of quail calls to listen for (and try) when hunting!
Gambel’s quail give a sharp three or four-note locator call when separated from their covey. Come breeding season, males advertise from a high perch with a “kaa” that carries across the sandy desert washes they call home.
Mountain quail can be heard making a descending “QUEE-ar” call during the spring.
Montezuma quail (Mearns) give a descending, buzzing whistle call.
In general, quail coveys make soft, chicken-like clucking sounds while foraging.
What Are the Best Quail Calls for Hunting?
For bobwhites, the “bob-white” whistle is the most common and very effective. My favorite way to use it is to make an assembly call to locate scattered birds after things have quieted down for a bit (after the covey has flushed). This call will mimic that the coast is clear for the covey to come back together.
Mouth-blown quail whistles or rubber-band-style calls are simple and effective for close work and should be part of your quail hunting gear set. Electronic calls can provide consistency and volume for long distances to locate coveys in open terrain, where legal.
As always, check your local regulations before heading afield.
How Do You Use a Quail Call?
Knowing how to call quail is part of learning how to hunt these birds.
Spend some time in the woods just listening or watch a few YouTube videos of quail recordings to learn the rhythm and tone of these birds. I’ve been known to practice calling in my truck while driving to work to avoid annoying my wife and causing the dog anxiety.
Keep your calls short and natural, and don’t overcall when in the field. In most wildlife calling situations, less is more. Don’t forget to use pauses to mimic how birds actually communicate and adjust your volume accordingly depending on terrain and wind conditions.
Remember: The best quail calls are the ones that sound realistic and draw in the birds!
When is the Best Time to Use a Quail Call?
Quail are most active and vocal during the early morning and late afternoon as they forage for food. You should avoid calling mid-day when quail are typically quieter while loafing or resting.
Fall is an ideal time for covey calls, and breeding season in the early spring is best for locating males with whistle calls as they begin looking to form pair bonds.
How Do You Find Quail to Call and Hunt?
Calling quail isn't effective if you aren't where they are!
Finding quail is all about identifying suitable habitats, such as brushy fields or grasslands that border the edges of woods and farmland. Quail will often hold near areas with abundant food, cover, and water nearby.
Keep an ear open and listen for quail as they call around dawn and dusk — they might just tell you where they are. Additionally, walking slowly and quietly, and using dogs if available, can help you locate coveys.
Once a covey flushes and scatters, use an assembly call to regroup them for another chance at a shot opportunity. Then, use HuntWise to mark these locations where you find coveys, as it can be a great place to check back again the next time you hunt.
Using the Wildfires & Timber Cuts mapping layers in the HuntWise app can be a great way to find areas of new growth and food that will produce seeds and bugs.
Calling Quail (the Right Way) and Using HuntWise Leads to Better Hunts
Learning how to call quail can be more than just a way to make the most of every opportunity in the field. Whether you’re whistling back to a lone bobwhite or using an assembly call to pull scattered birds together, learning their language adds another tool of skill, and possibly success, to your hunts.
Along with using quail calls to enhance your hunt, download HuntWise to help fill your game vest on your next quail hunt. Use the mapping features to mark where you see (and hear) quail. Then use HuntCast and WindCast to plan the best days and times for hunts!
We have answers to your questions about calling quail!
Q: Do quail calls work?
A: Yes. Quail calls are effective for locating, attracting, or counting quail, especially during the breeding season when males respond to territorial calls.
Q: What is the best quail call to use?
A: The best call depends on your goal. For locating birds, the “bob-white” call (Northern Bobwhite) is most common. For covey calling in the morning or evening, use an “assembly” or “covey” call.
Q: How do you use a quail call?
A: Blow gently into the call to mimic a quail’s whistle or “bob-white” sound. Make short, clear notes, pausing between calls to listen for a response. Practice helps achieve a realistic tone and rhythm.
Q: When is the best time to use a quail call?
A: Early morning and late evening are the most effective times, especially during spring and early summer when quail are active and vocal.
Q: What sound does a quail make?
A: Male Northern Bobwhites call “bob-white!” in a clear, rising whistle. Other quail birds make soft “chi-chi-chi” or “pit-pit” sounds when communicating with coveys.
Q: How far away can you hear a quail?
A: A quail’s call can carry up to about 400–500 yards in open country. However, distance varies with terrain, wind, and background noise.
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