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Covey
Typically pronounced "cuh-vee," this word derives from the
from Middle French, via Middle English, and the word covee,
from Old French, and from cover, meaning to sit on,
or brood over. The ultimate root is probably from the Latin
cubare, to lie (as in, to lie down).
This is meaningful in the context of upland game birds in the sense
that we see birds such as
quail forming social groups (known as coveys). These
groups, which are essentially small flocks, provide social strength,
mating opportunities, and a greater awareness of predators and other
threats. The coveys are larger and better formed during the mating and
brooding season (spring through fall), and one can observe (and more
often, hear) fairly large coveys of quail and other
partridge-like birds forming almost immediately after birds
are scattered during hunting and training.
Uplanders will often refer to the movement of stray birds as they
call to each other and congregate within
cover as "coveying up." It's not uncommon for a
preserve owner or field
trial marshal to know
exactly where, in a given field, that coveys are likely to form,
move, and spend the night.
The coveying instinct works well for birds, because an inbound predator
(including your faithful hunting dog) can come across a tight covey of
birds and suddenly find them scattering, almost in an explosion, in
ten different directions. Predators (and gunners) will sometimes be at
a loss on just how to handle this sort of distraction, and that's exactly
why ground-loving game birds have evolved the technique: more birds live
to reproduce another day, and the slower stragglers pay the price (and
aren't as likely to live long enough to pass along their less escape-enabled
genes).
Another practical use for the coveying instinct is the trainer's ability
to use a recall pen to
collect up training birds that have been released in the field. This insures
that at least some released birds will make it back to the pen for use
another day, and the trip to the pen builds strength and skills in the
birds.
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