A plump, round gamebird the grey partridge is locally common but now thinly distributed and becoming scarce in most parts of the country. The orange face and black horseshoe-shaped patch on the belly immediately identifies the grey partridge. It is grey-brown above with a grey chest and orange-brown stripes down the flanks.
Behaviour
A farmland bird, it feeds on seeds, leaves and small invertebrates. When disturbed, grey partridges prefer to run instead of fly but they will fly low to the ground if necessary. They breed in open scrub and farmland, close to hedges or other vegetation, laying their eggs on the ground in a grass-lined scrape.
Size
- Length: 29-32cm
- Wingspan: 46cm
- Weight: 390g
- Average Lifespan: 3 years
Status
Classified in the UK as a Red List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review and as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
Distribution
England and the lowland parts of Scotland and Wales.
When to see
January – December
Facts
- Also known as the ‘English partridge’, our grey partridge population declined by 50% between 1969 and 1990; their estimated population is now 70-75,000 pairs.
- Partirdges lay the highest number of eggs per clutch of any bird species. They will regularly lay 14-15 eggs in a brood and often lay more than that!