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Grey Partridge
(Perdix perdix)
: "English Partridge", "Hungarian Partridge", "Hun"
 German name(s): "Rebhuhn"
Size: 28-32 cm; wing span 45-48 cm
Weight: 300-450 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Grey Partridges are roughly chicken-sized birds. Their
plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are slightly different.
The forehead, supercilium, chin and sides of the head of
male
Grey Partridges are orange-brown. The crown, neck and breast
are grey, finely barred darker-grey. The grey continues down
the flanks, where it is intersected by several brown vertical
bars. The lower belly, vent and undertail coverts are off-white
to light-grey. The upperparts have highly cryptic brown-grey plumage lightly barred with grey.
The wing feathers are dark-grey and brown with grey streaks.
Females
are very similar to males, with a slightly
duller plumage,
a light-grey supercilium and an usually smaller, if any, dark-brown
belly patch (although the size of the patch is variable in both
sexes).
The irises of both sexes are orange-brown. The slightly downcurved
short, slim bill is light-grey. The legs and feet are greyish-yellow.
Juveniles
have cryptic
plumage, with a buff
belly, vent and undertail coverts, while the head and the rest of the
front are brown with white and grey streaking. The back and wings
are similar to those of
adults.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Grey
Partridge at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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
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The global distribution of the Grey Partridge is available
HERE
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In total, there are 8 races of Grey Partridges, some if which
have restricted ranges (for details see a field guide).
The species is found in Europe and in central and parts of
eastern North America.
The most widespread European race is nominate race
"perdix",
which is found from the British Isles and southern Scandinavia
to southern France and the northern half of Italy, and farther
East in the Balkans and eastern Europe. The range of other
races continues farther into central Asia. Within their
breeding range Grey Partridges are migratory.
Grey Partridges preferably live in open grassland with scattered
shrubs. In a cultural landscape their preferred habitat is around
the edges of commercial crops, in particular (winter) wheat.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "perdix"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Grey Partridges, race
"perdix",
near Wizna, on the river Narew, in January 2016, and in the area
of Jelonki, near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in May 2016
and in August 2016.
In the past we used to see Grey Partridges, nominate race
"perdix",
infrequently in open country, in particular in agricultural areas,
in various parts of Germany (especially in low mountain ranges
such as the Eifel).
Race "armoricana"
G. Normand reports finding Grey Partridges, race
"armoricana",
ca. 20 km North of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, in May 2020.
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Photos |
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Race "perdix"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Frontal view of a male Grey Partridge; note the prominent
dark-brown belly patch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Pair of Grey Partridges, with the male on the left
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
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FEMALE |
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Near-frontal view of a female Grey Partridge; note the small
dark-brown belly patch (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, January 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Grey Partridge; the grey supercilium
suggests that this is a female (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Small covey of Grey Partridges, with a female disernible by the
very small belly patch on the left (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, January 2016]
Small covey of Grey Partridges (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Race "armoricana"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Near-frontal view of a male Grey Partridge; note the prominent
dark-brown belly patch
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[20 km North of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2020]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
