diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py b/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
index 9b63e7734198..3f6ca4c2a374 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
@@ -381,27 +381,55 @@ def contains(self, mouseevent):
 # This is a helper function that parses out the various combination of
 # arguments for doing colored vector plots.  Pulling it out here
 # allows both Quiver and Barbs to use it
-def _parse_args(*args):
+def _parse_args(*args, **kw):
     X, Y, U, V, C = [None] * 5
-    args = list(args)
-
-    # The use of atleast_1d allows for handling scalar arguments while also
-    # keeping masked arrays
-    if len(args) == 3 or len(args) == 5:
-        C = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
-    V = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
-    U = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
-    if U.ndim == 1:
-        nr, nc = 1, U.shape[0]
-    else:
-        nr, nc = U.shape
-    if len(args) == 2:  # remaining after removing U,V,C
-        X, Y = [np.array(a).ravel() for a in args]
-        if len(X) == nc and len(Y) == nr:
-            X, Y = [a.ravel() for a in np.meshgrid(X, Y)]
-    else:
-        indexgrid = np.meshgrid(np.arange(nc), np.arange(nr))
-        X, Y = [np.ravel(a) for a in indexgrid]
+    if len(kw) != 0:  # some keyword arguments
+        # The use of atleast_1d allows for handling scalar arguments while also
+        # keeping masked arrays
+        
+        if len(kw) == 3 or len(kw) == 5:
+            if (kw.get('C') is not None):
+                C = np.atleast_1d(kw.pop('C'))
+        if (kw.get('V') is not None):
+            V = np.atleast_1d(kw.pop('V'))
+        if (kw.get('U') is not None):
+            U = np.atleast_1d(kw.pop('U'))
+            if U.ndim == 1:
+                nr, nc = 1, U.shape[0]
+            else:
+                nr, nc = U.shape
+        if len(kw) == 2:  # remaining after removing U,V,C.  CASE 1
+            if kw.get('X') is not None:
+                X = np.array(kw.get('X')).ravel()
+            if kw.get('Y') is not None:
+                Y = np.array(kw.get('Y')).ravel()
+            if len(X) == nc and len(Y) == nr:
+                X, Y = [a.ravel() for a in np.meshgrid(X, Y)]
+        elif len(kw) == 0:  # CASE 2
+            indexgrid = np.meshgrid(np.arange(nc), np.arange(nr))
+            X, Y = [np.ravel(a) for a in indexgrid]
+    if len(args) != 0:
+        args = list(args)
+        # The use of atleast_1d allows for handling scalar arguments while also
+        # keeping masked arrays
+        if len(args) == 3 or len(args) == 5:
+            if C is not None:
+                C = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
+        if V is None:
+            V = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
+        if U is None:
+            U = np.atleast_1d(args.pop(-1))
+            if U.ndim == 1:
+                nr, nc = 1, U.shape[0]
+            else:
+                nr, nc = U.shape
+        if len(args) == 2:  # remaining after removing U,V,C.  CASE 1
+            X, Y = [np.array(a).ravel() for a in args]
+            if len(X) == nc and len(Y) == nr:
+                X, Y = [a.ravel() for a in np.meshgrid(X, Y)]
+        else:  # CASE 2
+            indexgrid = np.meshgrid(np.arange(nc), np.arange(nr))
+            X, Y = [np.ravel(a) for a in indexgrid]
     return X, Y, U, V, C
 
 
@@ -443,7 +471,17 @@ def __init__(self, ax, *args,
         %s
         """
         self.ax = ax
-        X, Y, U, V, C = _parse_args(*args)
+        X, Y, U, V, C = _parse_args(*args, **kw)
+        if kw.get('U') is not None: # Resetting **kw to the way it was without these
+            kw.pop('U')
+        if kw.get('V') is not None: 
+            kw.pop('V')
+        if kw.get('X') is not None:
+            kw.pop('X')
+        if kw.get('Y') is not None:
+            kw.pop('Y')
+        if kw.get('C') is not None:
+            kw.pop('C')
         self.X = X
         self.Y = Y
         self.XY = np.column_stack((X, Y))
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_collections.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_collections.py
index 6812ee1ad427..f230cd107295 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_collections.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_collections.py
@@ -416,6 +416,21 @@ def test_quiver_limits():
     q = plt.quiver(x, y, u, v)
     assert q.get_datalim(ax.transData).bounds == (0., 0., 7., 9.)
 
+    x, y = np.arange(8), np.arange(10)
+    u = v = np.linspace(0, 10, 80).reshape(10, 8)
+    q = plt.quiver(X = x, Y = y, U = u, V = v)
+    assert q.get_datalim(ax.transData).bounds == (0., 0., 7., 9.)
+
+    x, y = np.arange(8), np.arange(10)
+    u = v = np.linspace(0, 10, 80).reshape(10, 8)
+    q = plt.quiver(U = u, V = v)
+    assert q.get_datalim(ax.transData).bounds == (0., 0., 7., 9.)
+
+    x, y = np.arange(8), np.arange(10)
+    u = v = np.linspace(0, 10, 80).reshape(10, 8)
+    q = plt.quiver(x, y, U = u, V = v)
+    assert q.get_datalim(ax.transData).bounds == (0., 0., 7., 9.) 
+    
     plt.figure()
     ax = plt.axes()
     x = np.linspace(-5, 10, 20)