A partridge is a medium-sized galliform bird in any of several genera, with a wide native distribution throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Several species have been introduced to the Americas. They are sometimes grouped in the

Perdicinae Perdicinae is a polyphyletic former subfamily of birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae, regrouping the partridges, Old World quails, and francolins. Although this subfamily was considered monophyletic and separated from the pheasants, tra ...

subfamily of the

Phasianidae Phasianidae is a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, grouse, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hu ...

(pheasants, quail, etc.). However, molecular research suggests that partridges are not a distinct

taxon In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...

within the family Phasianidae, but that some species are closer to the

pheasant Pheasants ( ) are birds of several genera within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera's native range is restricted to Eura ...

s, while others are closer to the junglefowl.

Description

Partridges are medium-sized

game A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art ...

birds, generally intermediate in size between the larger pheasants, smaller quail; they're ground-dwelling birds that feature variable plumage colouration across species, with most tending to grey and brown.

Range and habitat

Partridges are native to

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

, and the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

. Some species are found nesting on steppes or agricultural land, while other species prefer more forested areas. They nest on the ground and have a diet consisting of seeds and insects.

Hunting

Species such as the grey partridge and the red-legged partridge are popular as game birds, and are often reared in captivity and released for the purpose of hunting. For the same reason, they have been introduced into large areas of North America.

Cultural references

According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when

Daedalus In Greek mythology, Daedalus (, ; Greek language, Greek: Δαίδαλος; Latin language, Latin: ''Daedalus''; Etruscan language, Etruscan: ''Taitale'') was a skillful architect and craftsman, seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and power. H ...

threw his apprentice, Talos, off the sacred hill of

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarde ...

in a fit of jealous rage. Supposedly mindful of his fall, the bird does not build its nest in the trees, nor take lofty flights and avoids high places. As described by medieval scholar Madeleine Pelner Cosman, medical practitioners in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

recommended partridge as a food of love: They suggested that "Partridge was superior in arousing dulled passions and increasing the powers of engendering. Gentle to the human stomach, partridge stimulated bodily fluids, raised the spirits, and firmed the muscles." Probably the most famous reference to the partridge is in the Christmas carol, " The Twelve Days of Christmas". The first gift listed is "a partridge in a

pear Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the Family (biology), family Rosaceae, bearing the Pome, po ...

tree", and these words end each verse. Since partridges are unlikely to be seen in pear trees (they are ground-nesting birds) it has been suggested that the text "a pear tree" is a corruption of the French "''une perdrix''" (a partridge). The partridge has also been used as a symbol that represents Kurdish nationalism. It is called ''Kew''. Sherko Kurmanj discusses the paradox of symbols in Iraq as an attempt to make a distinction between the Kurds and the Arabs. He says that while Iraqis generally regards the palm tree, falcon, and sword as their national symbols, the Kurds consider the oak, partridge, and dagger as theirs.

Species list in taxonomic order

*Genus '' Lerwa'' ** Snow partridge, ''Lerwa lerwa'' *Genus '' Tetraophasis'' ** Verreaux's monal-partridge, ''Tetraophasis obscurus'' ** Szechenyi's monal-partridge, ''Tetraophasis szechenyii'' *Genus '' Alectoris'' ** Arabian partridge, ''Alectoris melanocephala'' ** Przevalski's partridge, ''Alectoris magna'' ** Rock partridge, ''Alectoris graeca'' ** Chukar, ''Alectoris chukar'' ** Philby's partridge, ''Alectoris philbyi'' ** Barbary partridge, ''Alectoris barbara'' ** Red-legged partridge, ''Alectoris rufa'' *Genus '' Ammoperdix'' ** See-see partridge, ''Ammoperdix griseogularis'' ** Sand partridge, ''Ammoperdix heyi'' *Genus '' Perdix'' ** Grey partridge, ''Perdix perdix'' ** Daurian partridge, ''Perdix dauurica'' ** Tibetan partridge, ''Perdix hodgsoniae'' *Genus '' Rhizothera'' ** Long-billed partridge, ''Rhizothera longirostris'' ** Dulit partridge, ''Rhizothera dulitensis'' *Genus '' Margaroperdix'' ** Madagascar partridge, ''Margaroperdix madagascarensis'' *Genus '' Melanoperdix'' ** Black wood-partridge, ''Melanoperdix nigra'' *Genus '' Xenoperdix'' ** Rubeho forest partridge, ''Xenoperdix obscuratus'' ** Udzungwa forest partridge, ''Xenoperdix udzungwensis'' *Genus '' Arborophila'', the hill partridges ** Hill partridge, ''Arborophila torqueola'' ** Sichuan partridge, ''Arborophila rufipectus'' ** Chestnut-breasted partridge, ''Arborophila mandellii'' ** White-necklaced partridge, ''Arborophila gingica'' ** Rufous-throated partridge, ''Arborophila rufogularis'' ** White-cheeked partridge, ''Arborophila atrogularis'' ** Taiwan partridge, ''Arborophila crudigularis'' ** Hainan partridge, ''Arborophila ardens'' ** Chestnut-bellied partridge, ''Arborophila javanica'' ** Grey-breasted partridge, ''Arborophila orientalis'' ** Bar-backed partridge, ''Arborophila brunneopectus'' ** Orange-necked partridge, ''Arborophila davidi'' ** Chestnut-headed partridge, ''Arborophila cambodiana'' ** Red-breasted partridge, ''Arborophila hyperythra'' ** Red-billed partridge, ''Arborophila rubrirostris'' ** Sumatran partridge, ''Arborophila sumatrana'' *Genus '' Tropicoperdix'' ** Scaly-breasted partridge, ''Tropicoperdix chloropus'' ** Chestnut-necklaced partridge, ''Tropicoperdix charltonii'' *Genus '' Caloperdix'' ** Ferruginous partridge, ''Caloperdix oculea'' *Genus '' Haematortyx'' ** Crimson-headed partridge, ''Haematortyx sanguiniceps'' *Genus '' Rollulus'' ** Crested partridge, ''Rollulus roulroul'' *Genus '' Bambusicola'' ** Mountain bamboo partridge, ''Bambusicola fytchii'' ** Chinese bamboo partridge, ''Bambusicola thoracica''

References

External links

Videos, photos and sounds
- Internet Bird Collection {{Authority control * Bird common names