diff --git a/django/core/management.py b/django/core/management.py
index 931372cc5e..d3649b4d48 100644
--- a/django/core/management.py
+++ b/django/core/management.py
@@ -836,8 +836,8 @@ def get_validation_errors(outfile, app=None):
             if f.prepopulate_from is not None and type(f.prepopulate_from) not in (list, tuple):
                 e.add(opts, '"%s": prepopulate_from should be a list or tuple.' % f.name)
             if f.choices:
-                if not type(f.choices) in (tuple, list):
-                    e.add(opts, '"%s": "choices" should be either a tuple or list.' % f.name)
+                if not hasattr(f.choices, '__iter__'):
+                    e.add(opts, '"%s": "choices" should be iterable (e.g., a tuple or list).' % f.name)
                 else:
                     for c in f.choices:
                         if not type(c) in (tuple, list) or len(c) != 2:
diff --git a/docs/model-api.txt b/docs/model-api.txt
index c6707a691b..637318c6cc 100644
--- a/docs/model-api.txt
+++ b/docs/model-api.txt
@@ -445,7 +445,8 @@ empty value. If a field has ``blank=False``, the field will be required.
 ``choices``
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-A list of 2-tuples to use as choices for this field.
+An iterable (e.g., a list or tuple) of 2-tuples to use as choices for this
+field.
 
 If this is given, Django's admin will use a select box instead of the
 standard text field and will limit choices to the choices given.
@@ -481,6 +482,12 @@ or outside your model class altogether::
     class Foo(models.Model):
         gender = models.CharField(maxlength=1, choices=GENDER_CHOICES)
 
+Finally, note that choices can be any iterable object -- not necessarily a
+list or tuple. This lets you construct choices dynamically. But if you find
+yourself hacking ``choices`` to be dynamic, you're probably better off using
+a proper database table with a ``ForeignKey``. ``choices`` is meant for static
+data that doesn't change much, if ever.
+
 ``core``
 ~~~~~~~~