Perdix perdix
SUBFAMILY
Phasianinae (Tribe Perdicini)
TAXONOMY
Tetrao perdix Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden. Seven subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Common partridge; French: Perdrix grise; German: Rebhuhn; Spanish: Perdiz Pardilla.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
11–12 in (29–31 cm); male 0.7–1.3 lb (325–600 g); female 0.7–1.3 lb (310–570 g). Appearance varies especially in terms of grayer or browner plumage. Races in the western parts of the range tend to be more rufous brown, while those in the east are generally grayer and paler.
DISTRIBUTION
West to southeastern Europe, including south Scandinavia to Siberia and south to Kazakhstan and western Xinjiang.
HABITAT
Native of temperate grasslands and steppe, but now mainly in less intensively managed croplands; up to 8,500 ft (2,600 m) in Spain and Caucasus.
BEHAVIOR
In parties of 5–25, consisting of one or more families, in over-lapping home ranges for winter; pairs form and live in more exclusive areas in spring.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Weed and cereal seeds, grass, and clover leaves, with chicks completely dependent on insects for first two weeks.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Usually monogamous. Nests April–June depending on locality; clutch size usually 15–17; incubation 23–25 days; chicks fly at two weeks and reach adult weight in three months.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Still widespread and locally abundant, but adversely affected by intensive farming because of removal of nesting cover, herbicide treatment for weeds, and reduction in insect availability through pesticide applications to crops; 80% reduction estimated overall.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
An important game bird for hunting in Europe and United States; flagship for conservation in lowland agricultural landscapes.
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