21-410: Alectoris Ammoperdix Arborophila Bambusicola Haematortyx Lerwa Margaroperdix Melanoperdix Perdix Rhizothera Rollulus Tetraophasis Xenoperdix 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
42-448: A scantily lined ground scrape laying up to 20 eggs . They feed on a wide variety of seeds and vegetation. Ants are a very important source of nutrition for the birds as are pine nuts , juniper berries and lichens . As is typical of many galliform birds, Alectoris partridges are relatively round-bodied and small-headed. They typically have a light brown or grey back, grey breast, buff belly, and barred flanks. Several species have
63-547: 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. Alectoris See text. Alectoris
84-411: A whitish throat with a black border. Their specialized flank coverts give them the appearance of being more rotund than they actually are. Their legs are red, with well-developed, ball-peen hammer -like spurs. When disturbed they run very rapidly, often uphill, taking to the wing if pressed. Their wings are long and fairly sharp, shaped rather like those of ptarmigan and spruce grouse , suggesting that
105-425: Is a genus of partridges in the family Phasianidae , closely related to Old World quail ( Coturnix and relatives), snowcocks ( Tetraogallus ), partridge-francolins ( Pternistis ), bush quail ( Perdicula ), and sand and see-see partridges ( Ammoperdix ). Members of the genus are known collectively as rock partridges (a name that also refers to one species in particular, Alectoris graeca ). The genus name
126-619: Is a noisy ga-ga-ga-ga-chakera- chakera- chakera . Some confusion exists in the naming of this species because the name of the species called stone partridge in English translates literally from other languages into English as "rock partridge". For instance, in Dutch the species is rotspatrijs , in German – Felsenhenne , in French – poulette de roche – all literal translations of "rock partridge". The confusion
147-466: Is a rotund bird, with a light brown back, grey breast and buff belly. The face is white with a black gorget. It has rufous-streaked flanks and red legs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. It is very similar to the chukar partridge, but is greyer on the back and has a white, not yellowish foreneck. The sharply defined gorget distinguishes this species from red-legged partridge. The song
168-767: Is declining in parts of its range due to habitat loss and over-hunting. While populations are usually stable, the status of the Sicilian population may be more precarious, and certainly deserves attention (Randi 2006). This species is closely related to the chukar, Przevalski's , and Philby's partridges , forming a superspecies . The Western Mediterranean red-legged and Barbary partridges with their spotted neck collar are slightly more distant relatives. Nonetheless, although this species' range does not naturally overlap with that of its relatives, they co-occur where they have been introduced as gamebirds, for example in North America ,
189-511: Is derived from the Ancient Greek : αλέκτωρ , romanized : alektoris , meaning " chicken " or "farmyard fowl". Their fossils date back to the early Pleistocene, with extant representatives in southern Europe , North Africa and Arabia , and across Asia in Pakistan to Tibet and western China . These are non-migratory birds of dry, open and often hilly country. They nest in
210-654: Is further compounded as in some languages, Alectoris species are known by names that literally translate as stone partridge. In Dutch, steenpatrijs , in German Steinhuhn ; red-legged partridge ( A. rufa ) being rode steenpatrijs in Dutch. Further complication arises as, particularly within the US, the name "rock partridge" has been used for a variety of Alectoris species and hybrids. The international bird trade, for sport, aviaries' and meat, has led to misapplication of various of these common and scientific names. This species
231-413: Is known from China . Another one, A. baryosefi , has been described from Early Pleistocene fossils found at El-`Ubeidiya ( Jordan valley ), Israel . This Galliformes article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Alectoris graeca See text Perdix graeca Meisner, 1804 The rock partridge or common rock partridge ( Alectoris graeca ) is a gamebird in
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#1733086340714252-812: Is of doubtful validity. It is usually included in saxatilis , but apparently mostly derives from Albanian A. g. graeca . These probably crossed the Adriatic via a land-bridge during the last ice age , to become isolated only with the sea levels rising at the beginning of the Holocene c.12.000–10.000 years ago, with Alpine birds much less contributing to the Apennines population (Randi 2006). Apennine birds are not consistently recognizable by external morphology , and are only weakly differentiated with regards to mtDNA D-loop and hypervariable control region sequences and microsatellite genotyping. As they nonetheless constitute
273-465: The United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Russia , and in southeastern France where red-legged partridges have been released. In these areas, hybrids between this species, the chukar, and the red-legged partridge are usually found.(McGowan 1994, see also Randi 2006) The rock partridge has four recognized subspecies : The proposed subspecies from the Apennines, A. g. orlandoi Priolo, 1984 ,
294-602: The United Kingdom , the Azores , Madeira , and the Canary Islands . The chukar readily interbreeds with the red-legged partridge and rock partridge . The practice of breeding and releasing captive-bred chukar and hybrids between chukar and red-legged partridge has been banned in the United Kingdom, as it is a threat to red-legged partridge populations. The genus contains seven species: A prehistoric species, A. peii ,
315-434: 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. According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when Daedalus threw his apprentice, Talos , off the sacred hill of Athena in a fit of jealous rage . Supposedly mindful of his fall,
336-565: The Americas. They are sometimes grouped in the Perdicinae subfamily of the Phasianidae (pheasants, quail, etc.). However, molecular research suggests that partridges are not a distinct taxon within the family Phasianidae, but that some species are closer to the pheasants , while others are closer to the junglefowl . Partridges are medium-sized game birds, generally intermediate in size between
357-478: 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 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
378-486: The birds sustain themselves in flight over substantial distances to find food. This probably occurs most often during winter. Some members of the genus, notably the chukar and red-legged partridge , have been introduced to many locations outside their natural range; there are now established populations of chukar in western North America , Hawaii , and the South Island of New Zealand , and of red-legged partridge in
399-495: The larger pheasants, smaller quail; they're ground-dwelling birds that feature variable plumage colouration across species, with most tending to grey and brown. Partridges are native to Europe , Asia , Africa , and the Middle East . 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. Species such as
420-451: The pheasant family, Phasianidae , of the order Galliformes (gallinaceous birds ). It is native to southern Europe , and is closely related and very similar to its eastern equivalent, the chukar partridge , A. chukar . It is a resident breeder in dry, open and often hilly country. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 5–21 eggs . The rock partridge takes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food. The rock partridge
441-530: 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 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
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