diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py b/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
index 9b63e7734198..e062ce1c817f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/quiver.py
@@ -381,27 +381,49 @@ 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]
+    args = list(args)  # The use of atleast_1d allows for handling
+    if len(args) != 0:  # scalar arguments while also
+        if len(args) == 3 or len(args) == 5:  # keeping masked arrays
+            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]
     return X, Y, U, V, C
 
 
@@ -443,7 +465,17 @@ 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
+            kw.pop('U')  # way it was without these
+        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))
@@ -950,7 +982,17 @@ def __init__(self, ax, *args,
             kw['linewidth'] = 1
 
         # Parse out the data arrays from the various configurations supported
-        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
+            kw.pop('U')  # it was without these
+        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
         xy = np.column_stack((x, y))
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_quiver.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_quiver.py
index 4470e02fac8c..eaaa7857df47 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_quiver.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_quiver.py
@@ -186,6 +186,26 @@ def test_quiver_xy():
     ax.grid()
 
 
+def test_quiver_keyword_arguments():
+    ax = plt.axes()
+    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.)
+
+    ax = plt.axes()
+    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.)
+
+    ax = plt.axes()
+    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, C=(1, 1, 1))
+    assert q.get_datalim(ax.transData).bounds == (0., 0., 7., 9.)
+
+
 def test_quiverkey_angles():
     # Check that only a single arrow is plotted for a quiverkey when an array
     # of angles is given to the original quiver plot