About the Red-legged Partridge
The red-legged partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French partridge, to distinguish it from the English or grey partridge. The genus name is from Ancient Greek alektoris a farmyard chicken, and rufa is Latin for red or rufous.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adult red-legged partridges are sandy-brown above, pinkish-buff on the belly, and pale grey on the breast, with a prominent gorget of black streaking, bold rufous and black flank-bars, a cream throat, pink legs, and a red bill and eye ring. The crown and upper nape of adult red-legged partridge are a warm pinkish-brown; the fore crown and lateral edges of the crown are pale blue-grey, and the bird has a narrow off-white supercilium running from above the lores to the sides of the lower nape. The lores have a solid bar of black feathering above a patch of pinkish-red skin.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Red-legged Partridge sounds like
Where the Red-legged Partridge lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Netherlands, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Germany, Poland.
When to see the Red-legged Partridge
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Chukar PartridgeAlectoris chukarThe chukar is a rotund 32–35 cm (13–14 in) long partridge, with a light brown back, grey breast, and buff belly.
Rock PartridgeAlectoris graecaThe rock partridge is a rotund bird, with a light brown back, grey breast and buff belly.
Barbary PartridgeAlectoris barbaraThe Barbary partridge is a rotund bird, with a grey-brown back, grey breast and buff belly.
Side by side: Chukar Partridge vs Red-legged Partridge
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