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Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) German name(s): "Felsenhuhn" Size: 32-35 cm

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Barbary Partridges are roughly chicken-sized birds. Both sexes are identical. They have a mostly grey head, with a dark-grey longitudinal stripe along the middle, from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck, and red eye-rings. The characteristic feature of the Barbary Partridge is that they have light-brown patches on the ear coverts. The neck is rust-red with white spots. The chest and the entire back below the neck, including the central uppertail, are brownish-grey. Only the outer tail feathers are brown. The underparts, from the belly to the undertail, are rufous, with boldly barred brown/cream/dark-grey flanks. Note that these bars are part of the body plumage, not the wings. The irises are brown. The slightly downcurved bill is pink to pinkish-grey with a pink base, while the legs and feet are orange to pink.

Taxonomy, classification See Barbary Partridge at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Barbary Partridge is available HERE . Their range extends from the Canary Islands and the western Sahara in the West across mountainous north-western Africa (Morocco, northern Algeria, Tunisia) into northern Libya. In addition, they are also found in only two locations in southern Europe. The only places in Europe where Barbary Partridges are found are Gibraltar, at the southern tip of Spain, and on Sardinia, Italy. Barbary Partridges are adapted to life in a variety of habitats, with a preference for arid or semi-arid environments. They can be found on rocky mountain slopes up to 3000 m high, in clearings of dry woodland at lower altitude, to open, usually rocky, country down to sea level.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "koenigi" We have not seen a Barbary Partridge in continental Europe yet. A. Heintz and I. Hamzaoui have made available the photo shown below of a Barbary Partridge, race "koenigi", taken on Tenerife, Spain, in February 2018. All sighting and photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by A. Heintz and I. Hamzaoui.

Photos

Race "koenigi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Barbary Partridge; note the light-brown ear coverts that distinguish it from other, similar species in the genus Alectoris (photo courtesy of A. Heintz and I. Hamzaoui)
[ February 2018]

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