Order Galliformes FamilyPhasianidae
Partridges are non-migratory birds that belong to the family Phasianidae. They are typically found in Asia, although a few species can also be found in Africa and Europe. Some partridges have been introduced to various parts of the world as game birds.
These birds are medium-sized, somewhere between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. They are ground-dwelling birds that spend most of their time in long grasses searching for insects, berries, and seeds. Partridges are also ground-nesting birds.
1. Genus Alectoris
The Alectoris genus, also known as Rock partridges, inhabit open hilly countrysides and are found in Asia, Europe, and occasionally elsewhere.
1.1. Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
Description: Chukars are large for partridges and have light brown upper bodies and gray underbodies. Chukars’ flanks are rufous-streaked. They have white faces with bold black stripes that run through their eyes to their necks to form a “necklace.” Their legs and bills are red. Both sexes are alike, with females slightly smaller and without the spur.
- Length: 32-35 cm.
- Weight: 550-675 g.
Similar to:
- Himalayan Snowcocks. Only the heads of Chukars and Himalayan Snowcocks are similar.
- Red-legged Partridges. Their sharply defined gorgets distinguish Chukars from Red-legged Partridges, and their black collars break into dark streaks near their breasts.
- Rock Partridges. The white of the upper breasts extends lower for Rock Partridges than the Chukars; Chukars have wider black borders at the bottom of the white areas.
Habitat: Chukars prefer open rocky slopes with short grass, scattered shrubs, or cultivated areas as their habitat.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chukars as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Chukar partridges are distributed from the Middle East and Asia to China. Feral populations can also be found in the United States, Canada, South America, Hawaii, New Zealand, and South Africa.
1.2. Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
Description: Arabian Partridges have bluish-gray upper bodies, black crowns, and napes. They also have a broad white band above their eyes, separated from their chins and upper throats by a narrow black line.
Their necks have pale brown sides with dark barring on their flanks. Additionally, they have pink bills and legs. Both males and females have the same appearance, except males are slightly bigger and have a knob on their lower legs.
- Length: 39-43 cm.
- Weight: 522-724 g.
Habitat: Arabian Partridges are in grassy, stony hills, upland plains, mountains, and juniper forests with ample vegetation cover.
Conservation:. IUCN has listed Arabian Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Arabian Partridges are endemic to southernSaudi Arabia,Yemen, and westernOman.
1.3. Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)
Description: Barbary Partridges have gray-brown upper bodies, gray breasts, and buffy bellies. They have a reddish-brown gorget with white streaks and brown crowns. Their faces are light gray, while their bills and legs are red. The birds also have heavily rufous and white streaks on their flanks. The sexes are alike; the female is only slightly smaller and lacks the blunt spur of the male.
- Length: 33-36 cm.
- Weight: 376-461 g.
- Wingspan – 46-49 cm.
Habitat: Barbary Partridges are commonly found on dry hillsides with sparse vegetation, sandy dunes, dry river beds, and sometimes croplands.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Barbary Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Barbary Partridges inhabit Northern African regions, including the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Chad. They also exist in Sardinia, Gibraltar, and the Canary Islands, where they are isolated populations.
1.4. Philby’s Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)
Description Philby’s Partridges have greyish-brown upper bodies and gray breasts. They also have black cheeks that extend down their necks. Their flanks are rufous and white striped. These partridges have pale grey heads, napes, and pink bills and feet.
- Length: 33-36 cm.
- Weight: Average 441 g.
Habitat: Philby’s Partridges can be found on rocky slopes with little vegetation and in montane regions.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Philby’s Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Philby’s Partridges are found in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
1.5. Przevalski’s Partridge (Alectoris magna)
Distribution: Przevalski’s Partridges have rusty-brown upper bodies, gray chests, and buffy bellies. They feature a black stripe with brown edging that runs through their eyes, around the cheeks, and down to their necks. Additionally, they have a brown crown, a light-grey wide eyebrow, red bills, and feet. You can observe rufous, brown, and white stripes on their flanks. Both sexes look similar, except that the females are smaller and lack the single spur that the male possesses.
- Length: 36-38 cm.
- Weight: 445-710 g.
Habitat: Przevalski’s Partridges inhabit rocky hillsides and valleys covered with grass and small bushes.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Przevalski’s Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Przevalski’s Partridges are endemic to China.
1.6. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Description: Red-legged Partridges have sandy-brown feathers with rufous and black bars on their flanks. Their breasts are gray, and their bellies are buff. They have pink legs, red bills, and red eye rings. Their crowns and upper napes are pinkish-brown, while their faces are white. Their eyes have a black mask running through them, which continues around their cheeks to their breasts, creating a black collar that breaks out into dark streaks on their breasts.
- Length: 34-38 cm.
- Weight: 480-540 g.
- Wingspan – 47-50 cm.
Similar to Chukars, the sharply defined gorget distinguishes the Chukars from the Red-legged Partridges, which have black collars breaking into dark streaks near their breasts.
Habitat: Red-legged Partridges are found in lowland areas and generally in drier habitats, preferring hilly land with scattered small bushes. They are also found in farmlands and open stony areas.
Conservation: IUCN has listed the Red-legged Partridge as Near-Threatened (NT) due to the loss of uncultivated lands due to agriculture, which removes nesting cover. Hunting is also a reason for their decline.
Distribution: Red-legged Partridges are endemic to Western Europe and reside in Spain, Portugal, France, northwestern Italy, and Corsica.
1.7. Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca)
Description: Rock Partridges have light brown upper bodies, gray crowns, and breasts with buff bellies. Their faces and throats are white, with a thin black collar. They have rufous and black-streaked flanks, with red legs and bills. Females are similar, without the tarsal knob, and their head patterns are duller.
- Length: 32-37 cm.
- Weight: 550-850 g.
- Wingspan – 46-53 cm.
Similar to Chukars. The Rock Partridges’ upper breast white extends lower than that of the Chukars, which have wider black borders at the bottom of these white areas.
Habitat: Rock Partridges live in rocky hills with calcareous rock, short grass, shrubs, and trees. They are also found in pastures.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Rock Partridges as Near Threatened (NT) due to habitat loss and degradation, unsustainable hunting, extreme climatic events, and increased tourism in mountainous areas.
Distribution: Rock Partridges are endemic to Europe and occur only in the Alps, the Apennines, Sicily, and the Balkans.
2. Genus Ammoperdix
This genus are resident breedersin dry, open country, often in hill areas in Africa and Asia.
2.1. Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Description: Sand Partridges have mainly sandy-brown plumage and wavy brown, black, and white flank stripes. Males have gray heads with white stripes through their eyes. Their bills and feet are red. The females are a duller version of the males without the face patterns.
- Length: 22-25 cm.
- Weight: 180-200 g.
- Wingspan – 39-41 cm.
Habitat: Sand Partridges are mostly found in desert valleys with scattered vegetation and boulders. They prefer steep, boulder-strewn slopes with sandy-bottomed wadis and ridges.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Sand Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Sand Partridges are found only in the Middle East, with populations distributed across several countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the UAE.
2.2. See-see Partridge (Ammoperdix griseogularis)
Description: See-see Partridges have mostly sandy-brown plumage with wavy white and brown stripes on their flanks. They have gray heads with black eyebrows and a small white patch on their cheeks. The sides of their heads are gray but with white speckles. The females are duller than the males, without gray heads, white patches, and black eyebrows.
- Length: 22-25 cm.
- Weight: 187-238 g.
- Wingspan – 40-42 cm.
Habitat: See-see Partridges inhabit some dry, open, stony foothills with little vegetation and dunes.
Conservation: IUCN has listed See-see Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: See-see Partridges are found in southeast Turkey through Syria and Iraq, reaching eastward to Iran and Pakistan.
3. Genus Arborophila
These partridges are small and have a diversity of coloring and patterning. They are found in Asia.
3.1. Bar-backed Partridge (Arborophila brunneopectus)
Distribution. Bar-backed Partridges have mostly buff-colored feathers. They have white faces and black crowns, with black areas around their eyes. Their bills are black, and their legs are pink. They have black collars, white feathers with black tips on their flanks, and barring on their backs. Females are typically smaller and have less vibrant coloration than males.
- Length: 26-29 cm.
- Weight: average 317 g.
Habitat: Bar-backed Partridges live in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and hilly evergreen forests, which can include bamboo-dominated areas.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Bar-backed Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Bar-backed Partridges are found inCambodia,China,Laos,Myanmar,Thailand, andVietnam.
3.2. Chestnut-bellied Partridge (Arborophila javanica)
Description: Chestnut-bellied Partridges have rufous crowns, gray breasts, red legs and facial skin, black masks, chins, and bills. Their wings are brown, and their legs are red. Their distinguishing features are their rufous bellies and flanks. Their upper bodies are a blend of brown, black, and gray.
- Length: Average 25 cm.
- Weight: 257-286 g.
Habitat: Chestnut-bellied Partridges thrive in hill and mountain forests with steep slopes, rocky cliffs, and abundant vegetation, including bamboo forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chestnut-bellied Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Chestnut-bellied Partridges are endemic to Indonesia.
3.3. Chestnut-breasted Partridge (Arborophila mandellii)
Description: Chestnut-breasted Partridges are a rare bird species identified by their chestnut breast bands and gray bellies. Their forehead to nape is reddish-brown, and they have gray breasts, red legs, and facial skin. They also have black and white gorgets on their necks and brown wings.
- Length: 28-30 cm.
- Weight: average 268 g.
Habitat: Chestnut-breasted Partridges prefer mountainous forests with steep slopes, rocky cliffs, and dense undergrowth, often with bamboo thickets.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chestnut-breasted Partridges as Near Threatened (NT) due to habitat loss and degradation resulting from shifting cultivation, timber harvesting, clearance for tea plantations, bamboo collection, extensive grazing, and hunting.
Distribution: Chestnut-breasted Partridges are found only in the eastern Himalayas. Their range extends from Bhutan, West Bengal, Sikkim, and northeastern India to northern Myanmar, southeastern Tibet, and China.
3.4. Chestnut-headed Partridge (Arborophila cambodiana)
Description: Chestnut-headed Partridges display rich chestnut brown plumage on their faces, necks, and breasts. They have a dark central crown, nape, and upper ear covers. Their upper bodies are mostly black spotted with dull brown, while their bellies and vents are brownish. They have black flanks with bold white triangular centers to feathers. Their bills are black, and their legs are red.
- Length: 28-29 cm.
- Weight: 400-550 g.
- Wingspan – Average 40 cm.
Habitat: Chestnut-headed Partridges reside in evergreen forests on slopes and plateaus and are sometimes found in open areas. They are typically found in mountainous regions.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chestnut-headed Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Chestnut-headed Partridges are found in various Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
3.5. Chestnut-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila charltonii)
Description: Chestnut-necklaced Partridges are closely related to Vietnam Partridges and Scaly Partridges. They are easy to identify because their chestnut collars are bordered with black. Their crowns and napes are brown and have dark speckles. Their white eyebrows, throat, and neck are also speckled with dark brown. Their upper bodies are brown, marked finely with blackish and buff, while their under-bodies are buff. They have greenish-yellow legs and bills. The females are a bit smaller and duller than the males.
- Length: 26-32 cm.
- Weight: Average 290 g.
Habitat: Chestnut-necklaced Partridges inhabit mature semi-evergreen lowland forests and secondary forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chestnut-necklaced Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to forest destruction and conversion of forested areas to plantations.
Distribution: The Chestnut-necklaced Partridges are found in the southern regions of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Indonesia.
3.6. Gray-breasted Partridge (Arborophila orientalis)
Description: Gray-breasted Partridges are mostly covered in dark grey feathers, which become barred on their lower backs and tails. They have black crowns and napes, white foreheads, cheeks, and necks. Their bills are black, and their legs are red. They also have bare red skin around their eyes. The flanks of these partridges are grey with rufous tinges on the rear flanks. It’s noteworthy that females are smaller and duller in color.
- Length: Average 28 cm.
- Weight: Average 268 g.
Habitat: Gray-breasted Partridges primarily inhabit upper dipterocarp, lower montane, and tall upper montane forests in the interior of primary forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Gray-breasted Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to wood and pulp plantations and increased farming and ranching.
Distribution: Gray-breasted Partridges are endemictoJava andIndonesia.
3.7. Hainan Partridge (Arborophila ardens)
Description: Hainan Partridges have blackish heads, white patches on the ear coverts, and a whitish supercilium. Their crowns and napes are dark brown mottled black. They have olive-brown upper bodies with black scales and greyish-brown wings. Their throats and neck-sides are blackish, with an orange collar around their lower necks. Their underbodies are grey with buffish bellies. They have black beaks, brown eyes, and dull, reddish legs. Females are smaller than males and a bit duller in color.
- Length: 26-28 cm.
- Weight: Average 300 g.
Habitat: Hainan Partridges are restricted to primary, tropical evergreen forests with broadleaved and mixed coniferous-broadleaved.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Hainan Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to ongoing habitat loss from deforestation and due to illegal hunting.
Distribution: Hainan Partridges areendemic to Hainan, South China.
3.8. Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola)
Description: Hill Partridge’s males have orange crowns and faces, with blackheads and streaked throats. Their breast is slate-colored, and they have a white collar and bellies. The upper part of their body is brownish with black edges on their feathers, while their underbody is rufous with white spots. Their irises are brown to chestnut-brown, bills are dusky brown to blackish, and legs are olive-brown to blackish.
- Length: 28-30 cm.
- Weight: 325-430 g.
Habitat: Hill Partridges can be found in tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical montane forests, especially in hilly areas with streams.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Hill Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Hill Partridges are found from the western Himalayas to north Vietnam, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
3.9. Malayan Partridge (Arborophila campbelli)
Description: Malayan Partridges have mostly black plumage with a white supercilium and cheeks, reddish-orange skin around the eyes, black bills, and red legs. Their chests are black, lightening as they move through their bellies. Their upper bodies are olive-brown with white feather edges. Sexes are similar, but females are duller.
- Length: Average 28 cm.
- Weight: Average 320 g.
Habitat: Malayan Partridges inhabit montane forests with dense undergrowth.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Malayan Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Malayan Partridges are found inhighland forestsinPeninsular Malaysia.
3.10. Orange-necked Partridge (Arborophila davidi)
Description: Orange-necked Partridges have olive-brown upper bodies with dark brown bands, dusky crowns, and mottled brown napes. They also have a wide black eyeline to form a collar along the neck. Their chins are pale buff, their throats are white and rusty orange, and their chests are olive-brown. They have a greenish and whitish belly and black flanks with white stripes. Their bills are black, and their legs are pinkish.
- Length: Average 27 cm.
- Weight: Average 241 g.
Habitat: Orange-necked Partridges are found in certain disrupted habitats, such as scrublands, bamboo growths, and logged plantations.
Conservation:. IUCN has listed Orange-necked Partridges as Near Threatened (NT) due to excessive deforestation resulting from commercial logging, unofficial timber collection, and land clearance for cultivation.
Distribution: Orange-necked Partridges are found in southern Vietnam and Mondulkiri, Cambodia.
3.11. Red-billed Partridge (Arborophila rubrirostris)
Description: Red-billed Partridges are the only members of the genus Arborophila whose bills are completely red (others have either yellow-tipped red bills or black bills). Their heads, napes, necks, and chins are all black with a speckling of white, but this can vary. The bare skin around their eyes, bills, and legs is red. Their breasts and vents are ruddy brown with white specks; their flanks are black with white edging on feathers. Their upper bodies are brown, narrowly barred blackish.
- Length: 27-28 cm.
- Weight: Average 241 g.
Habitat: Red-billed Partridges are found in dense broadleaf evergreen and semi-evergreen forests on rolling hills, particularly non-thorny bamboo areas.
Conservation:. IUCN has listed Red-billed Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Red-billed Partridges are endemicto theBarisanhighland forestinSumatra, Indonesia.
3.12. Red-breasted Partridge (Arborophila hyperythra)
Description: Red-breasted Partridges have dull brown upper bodies with narrow black bars, a blackish crown, napes with brown spots, a grayish brown supercilium, a blackish brown mask, and rufous cheeks and throats. They have bright chestnut breasts (which sometimes can be brown) and whitish bellies with black and white flanks. Their bills are black, and their legs are salmon pinkish. Females are smaller and generally duller but with browner spots on their flanks.
- Length: Average 27 cm.
- Weight: Average 270 g.
Habitat: Red-breasted Partridges inhabit montane forests, which include primary and secondary forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Red-breasted Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Red-breasted Partridges are endemic to North Central Borneo.
3.13. Rufous-throated Partridge (Arborophila rufogularis)
Description: Rufous-throated Partridges have dull olive-brown upper bodies, crowns, and napes. They also have a white supercilium. The sides of their neck and throat are orange-rufous with black speckles. Their bellies, flanks, and upper bellies are blue-gray with whitish central bellies. They have dark bills with pinkish legs.
- Length: 27-29 cm.
- Weight: 325-370 g.
Habitat: Rufous-throated Partridges inhabit evergreen montane forests with thick undergrowth and oak forests that contain laurels and rhododendrons.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Rufous-throated Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Rufous-throated Partridges are found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
3.14. Scaly-breasted Partridge (Arborophila chloropus)
Description: Scaly-breasted Partridges have brownish crowns and upper bodies with black spots and bars. Their upper breasts are olive gray-brown with black scales, while their lower throats are buffy-tan with black spots. Their lower breasts are orange-buff and become more buffish on the belly. Both sexes look alike, but females are smaller.
Scaly-breasted Partridges are closely related to Vietnam Partridges and Chestnut-necklaced Partridges.
- Length: 22-25 cm.
Habitat: Scaly-breasted Partridges can be found in dense primary evergreen or mixed deciduous forests, bamboo patches, and occasionally secondary forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Scaly-breasted Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Scaly-breasted Partridges are found in southern Yunnan (China),Myanmar, northwesternVietnam,Laos,Cambodia,andThailand, south of the northernmost Peninsula.
3.15. Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus)
Description: Sichuan Partridges have reddish-brown crowns and a white stripe above their eyes. They have buff-colored areas around their ears and a neck with black streaks. A chestnut band stretches across their chest. Their upper bodies are brownish-grey with narrow black edges on their feathers. Their bellies are white, and they have rufous flanks with white patches. Their bills are blackish, their legs are grey, and they have dull-dull-red bare skin surrounding their eyes. The females are smaller, and their chins are a dull yellow.
- Length: 28-30,5 cm.
- Weight: 410-470 g.
Habitat: Sichuan Partridges are found in temperate broadleaved cloud forests, mainly mixed evergreen and deciduous.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Sichuan Partridges as Endangered (EN) due to habitat destruction through commercial clear-felling of primary forest, agriculture, and illegal logging.
Distribution: Sichuan Partridges are endemic to China.
3.16. Taiwan Partridge (Arborophila crudigularis)
Description: Taiwan Partridges are birds with olive-gray upper bodies with black bars and three gray bars on their rufous rounded wings. Their crowns are gray, and their heads have black sides, white eyebrows, chins, and patches below their eyes. Additionally, their throats are white, and they have a black half-collar. Their bills are blue-gray, their legs are orange-red, and their eyes are black. Females are smaller and have more white spotting below.
- Length: 27-28 cm.
- Weight: Average 311 g.
Habitat: Taiwan Partridges typically inhabit broadleaf forests, preferring thickets and undergrowth.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Taiwan Scaly-breasted Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Taiwan Partridges are endemic to the mountains of Taiwan.
3.17. Vietnam Partridge (Arborophila merlini)
Description: Vietnam Partridges have finely barred brown backs and pale heads with brown crowns. Their upper breasts are brown and scaly, while their underbodies are buff with arrow markings on their flanks. They are closely related to the Scaly-breasted Partridges and Chestnut-necklaced Partridges. The sexes are similar, but females are slightly smaller.
- Length: Average 29 cm.
- Weight: Average 290 g.
Behavior and status: This little-known species feeds on seeds,berries, andtermites in small flocks. It is threatened byhabitat lossthrough deforestation and is restricted to two small areas of Annam.
3.18. White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis)
Description: White-Cheeked Partridges have gray and brown crowns with narrow white supercilium. A black stripe goes through their eyes and joins their black molar and malar. Their dark eyes are surrounded by bare red skin, and they have white cheeks. Their underbodies are gray with white spots on their flanks. Their feet are red. Their upper bodies are olive-brown with narrow black fringes. Females are smaller, with yellowish legs that change to red when breeding.
- Length: 25-28 cm.
- Weight: 200-312 g.
Habitat: White-cheeked Partridges are typically found in dense undergrowth in evergreen forests, scrubs, tea plantations, bamboo, grassland, and cultivation adjacent to forest cover. They have also been recorded in dense swamp forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed White-cheeked Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: White-cheeked Partridges are found in Northeast Bangladesh, South China, Northeast India, and North and West Myanmar.
3.19. White-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila gingica)
Description: Male White-necklaced Partridges have reddish-brown upper bodies with narrow black fringes. They also have olive-brown rumps with black spots, white foreheads with orange-rufous throats, and black gorgets bordered by white. Additionally, they have black breastbands and dark gray underbodies that change to whitish bellies. Their bills are short and gray, and their legs are red. The female partridges are similar in appearance but smaller in size.
- Length: 25-30 cm.
- Weight: Average 253 g.
Habitat: White-necklaced Partridges prefer coniferous forested areas with dense broad-leafed and mixed broadleaf understory near streams, ravines, bamboo, and scrub.
Conservation: IUCN has listed White-necklaced Partridges as Near Threatened (NT) due to habitat destruction through agriculture and timber demand.
Distribution: White-necklaced Partridges are endemic to southeastern China.
4. Genus Bambusicola
These are medium-sized Partridges that prefer bamboo-rich areas only found in Asia.
4.1. Chinese Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus)
Description: Chinese Bamboo Partridges have brown crowns and napes, rusty rufous faces, and necks with bluish grey foreheads, supercilium, and the bill is gray. Their breasts are bluish-grey, bordered below with rusty narrow bands. The rest of their underbodies are rufous with black spots. Their upper bodies are olive-brown with white spots. Their tails are broad and square, and their legs are greyish-olive. Sexes are alike, but females don’t have spur-on legs.
- Length: 30-32 cm.
- Weight: 242-297 g.
Habitat: Chinese Bamboo Partridges inhabit warm forests, grasslands, and bamboo forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Chinese Bamboo Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Chinese Bamboo Partridges are found in eastern mainland China and have recently been introduced to Japan, Hawaii, and Argentina.
4.2. Mountain Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola fytchii)
Description. Mountain Bamboo Partridges can be easily identified by their black and white eye stripes, which have a distinctive pattern on their head and underparts. They have white underbodies with large black speckles and greyish upper bodies with brown and black speckles. Their bills are blackish-brown, and their legs are olive-brown. Their tails are chestnut in color. Both males and females look alike except for the color of their eyebrows, females being rufous. Additionally, they do not have spurs.
- Length: 32-37 cm.
- Weight: 278-400 g.
Habitat: Mountain Bamboo Partridges live in open and bamboo scrub forests, tall grasslands, and degraded forests with bamboo near watercourses.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Mountain Bamboo Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Mountain Bamboo Partridges can be found in several countries, including Bangladesh, Tibet, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
4.3. Taiwan Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola sonorivoxi)
Description: Taiwan Bamboo Partridges have predominantly grey heads with rufous throats and chins. Their upperparts are olive-gray with white spots, and their underparts are rufous-buff with broad chestnut spotting and scaling. Both sexes are similar, but females lack spurs.
- Length: 30-32 cm.
- Weight: 278-400 g.
Habitat: Taiwan Bamboo Partridges inhabit dense, bushy areas, shrubs, and grasses, including bamboo forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Taiwan Bamboo Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Taiwan Bamboo Partridges are endemic to Taiwan.
5. Genus Caloperdix
There is only one species in this Genus.
5.1. Ferruginous Partridge (Caloperdix oculeus)
Description: Ferruginous Partridges can be easily identified by their rufous heads and underbodies. They feature a thin black line that runs through their eyes and black upper bodies with white scallops. Their wings are brown with black spots. Their bills are dark brown, and their legs are yellowish. Sexes are alike, except males have two spurs while females have only one.
- Length: 23-27 cm.
- Weight: Average 191 g.
Habitat: Ferruginous Partridges inhabit evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist lowland forests, dry forests in mountains and sandy valleys, and secondary shrub and bamboo growth.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Ferruginous Partridges as Near Threatened (NT) due to habitat destruction through logging, land conversion, and trapping for the cage-bird industry.
6. Genus Haematortyx
There is only one species in this Genus.
6.1. Crimson-headed Partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps)
Description: Crimson-headed Partridge males have dark plumage and crimson red heads, necks, breasts, and terminal undertail coverts. Their bills and orbital rings are yellow, and they have grey feet. Females do not have the spurs; their plumages are duller brownish black with orangey heads and breasts.
- Length: Average 25 cm.
- Weight: Average 330 g.
Habitat: Crimson-headed Partridges are found in lower montane forests, including Kerangas heath, alluvial forests, and poor-quality forests in sandy areas.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Crimson-headed Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: The Crimson-headed Partridges are found exclusively in the mountainous regions of Northern Borneo.
7. Genus Lerwa
There is only one species in this Genus.
7.1. Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwas)
Description: Snow Partridges have finely barred gray upper bodies and chestnut under bodies streaked with white. They also have bright red bills and legs, and their tails are barred with dark and white feathers. The sexes are alike; the female lacks spurs.
- Length: 38-40 cm.
- Weight: 550-700 g.
Habitat: Snow Partridges reside in alpine pastures and open hillsides above the tree line but avoid bare rocky terrain.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Snow Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Snow Partridges inhabit the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, which are located in Pakistan, China, India, and Nepal.
8. Genus Margaroperdix
There is only one species in this Genus.
8.1. Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagarensis)
Description. Madagascar Partridges are small birds with distinctive physical features. They have brown crowns with a narrow white supercilium, gray cheeks with a white border, black chins, and necks. Their lower bodies start near the chin with a rufous apron, and the rest of their bodies are dark with white spots. Their upper bodies are dull brown. They have black bills with bluish-gray mandibles and pale gray legs. Females are plainer and browner in coloration.
- Length: 26-30 cm.
- Weight: 220-250 g.
Habitat: Madagascar Partridges are often found in forest areas and brushlands and frequently inhabit secondary habitats. They are sometimes seen in grasslands, scattered Eucalyptus plantations, and weedy farmland but avoid areas with closed canopy.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Madagascar Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Madagascar Partridges are endemic to Madagascar.
9.Genus Melanoperdix
There is only one species in this Genus.
9.1. Black Partridge (Melanoperdix niger)
Description: Black Partridges have glossy black plumage, black bills, and blue-gray legs. Females have chestnut-brown upperparts, whitish throats, and underparts.
- Length: 24-27 cm.
- Weight: Average 280 g.
Habitat: Black Partridges occur in lowland rainforests, usually with many spiny stemless palms in the undergrowth.
Conservation:. IUCN has listed Black Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to habitat destruction through logging and land conversion. They are also being hunted.
Distribution: Black Partridges are a species of bird that inhabit Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra, all located in Southeast Asia.
10.Genus Perdix
These species are non-migratory birds and are known as “true partridges.” They are found mainly in steppes and open countries. Both sexes do not have spurs on their legs.
10.1. Daurian Partridge (Perdix dauurica)
Description: Daurian Partridges have orange faces with slate-gray crowns, napes, and underbodies, with a buff line on their chests and black belly patches. They have long feathers under their bills that form a “beard.” Their upper bodies are brown. Females are similar but have paler faces, smaller chestnut lines, and no black markings on their bellies.
- Length: 28-30 cm.
- Weight: 200-340 g.
Habitat: Durian Partridges reside in open grasslands, including farmlands and steppes.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Durian Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Durian Partridges are native to temperate East Asia, ranging from Kyrgyzstan eastward to China and Mongolia.
10.2. Gray Partridge (Perdix Perdix)
Description: Gray Partridges have brown upper bodies and are mostly brown to grey overall. They have an orange face, neck, and dark brown, horseshoe-shaped patches on their whiter bellies. Their wings are mottled, and they have short tails. Female partridges are smaller and duller in color than males.
- Length: 30-33 cm.
- Weight: 390-500 g.
- Wingspan – 53-56 cm.
Similar to the Gray Francolins, Gray Francolins have horizontally striped necks and breasts, while Gray Partridge has solid gray breasts.
Habitat: Gray Partridges are commonly found in large grasslands or other ground cover slightly taller than the bird, with some dense shrubby patches. They can also be spotted in fields with cereal grains, row crops, roadsides, and shelterbelts.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Gray Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Gray Partridges are found in Europe, where they range from Ireland to southern Scandinavia, and extend southward to the northern regions of Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, as well as in Asia, where their range extends beyond the Ural Mountains to Mongolia and southward to the Himalayas. They have also been reintroduced to many parts of Europe and introduced to several countries, including Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
10.3. Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae)
Description: Tibetan Partridges have upper bodies that are buff and closely barred with black. Their faces, supercilium, and throats are white, and a black stripe runs down their faces from below the eyes. These birds’ hind necks and collars are chestnut in color, while their lower bodies are pale buff and barred with black. Additionally, they have chestnut barred flanks. Females are smaller and duller than males.
- Length: 28-31 cm.
- Weight: 294-450 g.
Habitat: Tibetan Partridges inhabit dry mountain slopes with scattered dwarf junipers and Rhododendron bushes, crops, or bush.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Tibetan Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Tibetan Partridges inhabit the Tibetan plateau, Northern Pakistan, Kashmir, northwestern India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and western China.
11. Genus Ptilopachus
These species are found in Africa. Some put this genus with the New World partridge family.
11.1. Nahan’s Partridge (Ptilopachus nahani)
Description: Nahan’s Partridges have distinctive reddish skin around their eyes and at the base of their bills. Their upper bodies are brown, and their lower bodies are black-and-white with a whitish throat. They have grayish legs. Sexes are alike.
- Length: 23-26 cm.
- Weight: Average 310 g.
Habitat: Nahan’s Partridges prefer dense primary forests with natural gaps, drier banks, and a thick understory in logged and unlogged riverine or swampy areas.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Nahan’s Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to loss through logging, forest clearance for charcoal burning, and agriculture. They are also hunted for food, and their eggs are collected to be eaten.
Distribution: Nahan’s Partridges occur in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and central and western Uganda.
11.2. Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus)
Description Stone Partridges have a distinctive feature of cocking their brown tails, making them easily recognizable in the field. Their upper bodies are brown, while their heads, necks, and breasts are paler brown. Their bare orbitals are red; their bills are reddish with grayish-yellow tips, and their legs are red. They have buffy breasts with broad chestnut flanks. Sexes are alike; both can raise their crown feathers to form a rudimentary crest.
- Length: 23-28 cm.
- Weight: 187-198 g.
Habitat: Stone Partridges occur in scrubby vegetation on boulder-strewn hillsides.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Stone Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Stone Partridges occur from western Senegal eastward through Chad, Sudan, and central Kenya.
12. Genus Rhizothera
There is only one species in this Genus.
12.1. Long-billed Partridge (Rhizothera longirostris)
Description: Long-billed Partridges are easily recognizable due to their long, curved, black bills. They have rufous-colored heads with gray necks, eyelines, and chests. Their underbodies are also rufous in color and gradually become paler down to their bellies. Their vents are also rufous in color. Their upper bodies range from grey to brown. The rumps and tails are buffy gray, while their legs are light yellow. Both males and females have spurs, but females are comparatively smaller. Females have a rich, rufous color below, including their faces, while their upper parts, from back to upper tail, appear warmer and more brownish buff.
- Length: 30-37 cm.
- Weight: Average 800 g.
Habitat: Long-billed Partridges live in primary and secondary lowland forests and can be found in bamboo habitats. They also inhabit tiny forest fragments.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Long-billed as Near Threatened (NT) due to habitat destruction through logging and land conversion. They are also trapped in the cage-bird industry.
Distribution: Long-billed Partridges occur in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia (Kalimantan and Sumatra).
13. Genus Rollulus
There is only one species in this Genus.
13.1. Crested Wood Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Description Male Crested Wood Partridges have metallic green upper bodies with glossy dark blue underbodies. They also have brownish wing panels, a distinguishable tall red crest, and white forehead patches. Their bare patches are red, and their legs are pink. On the other hand, females mainly have pea-green plumage, brown wing coverts, and slate-gray heads.
- Length: Average 26 cm.
- Weight: 225-250 g.
Habitat: Crested Wood Partridges live in broad-leaved evergreen forests, dense lowland and hill forests, bamboo, peat swamps, and logged forests, particularly in true lowlands.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Crested Wood Partridges as Vulnerable (VU) due to habitat destruction through logging and land conversion.
Distribution: Crested Wood Partridges are found in Myanmar, peninsularThailand, and PeninsularMalaysia,Brunei, and Indonesia.
14. Genus Tetraophasis
This genus is strictly monogamous, with partners remaining together during winter. It is also known for being strong fliers and well-adapted to high altitudes. Females in this genus incubate their eggs until the last 48 hours, at which point the males take over the night-time roosting duties.
14.1. Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii)
Description: Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridges, also known as Buff-throated Partridges, have long white tails that are mostly partly erect and totally erect when alarmed. They have a distinctive tear-dropped red, horizontal eye-ring and a crest that occasionally can flare up. Their upper chests are grey, and their bellies are speckled orange and grey. They have a pale fawn chin and foreneck spot and reddish-brown legs. The females are like males but smaller and do not have the spurs.
- Length: 29-50 cm.
- Weight: 660-1790 g.
Habitat: Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridges mostly live in high mountains in mixed coniferous forests, rhododendron shrubs, oak thickets, grasslands, and rocky areas.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridges are native to the high mountains of western China and are found in southeastern Tibet, southern Qinghai, western Sichuan, and northwestern Yunnan.
14.2. Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis obscurus)
Description: Verreaux’s Monal-Partridges are a bird species with long, broadly white-tipped tails. These tails are mostly partly erect and spread when the bird is alarmed. They are brown, with intricate patterns of fine black spotting on their breasts, white edging on their wings and flanks, and brown rumps and upper tail coverts. Their heads are gray and have crests, while their bare, teardrop-shaped eye rings are red. Verreaux’s Monal-Partridges also have reddish-brown legs. Females are like males but are smaller, and they lack spurs.
- Length: 47-48 cm.
- Weight: Average 938 g.
Habitat: Verreaux’s Monal-Partridges inhabit open woodlands, boreal forests, scrublands, and meadows in alpine areas. They are recorded around rocks and streams.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Verreaux’s Monal-Partridges as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Verreaux’s Monal-Partridges are only found in central China.
15. Genus Xenoperdix
These small forest partridges were only discovered very recently.
15.1. Udzungwa Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis)
Description: Udzungwa Partridges have olive-brown upper bodies, a darker crown, barring, and rufous faces and throats. Their underbodies are gray with black spotting. Their bills are red, and their legs are yellowish. The sexes are alike.
- Length: Average 29 cm.
- Weight: Average 222 g.
Habitat: Udzungwa Partridges occur on high ridges and mountains covered in forests.
Conservation: IUCN has listed Udzungwa Partridges as Endangered (EN) due to hunting and snaring.
Distribution: Udzungwa Partridges are endemic to Tanzania.
Conclusion
In the serene environments of forests and open landscapes, partridges engage in lively conversations, sharing their unique experiences with one another. Their feathers, which range from earthy browns to striking patterns, reflect the diverse tapestry of their habitats, highlighting their remarkable adaptability.
These amazing birds, who prefer to live on the ground, have rich and melodious calls that echo through the forest and intricate courtship dances that remind us of the delicate balance between survival and beauty.
Partridges, while searching for seeds, insects, and shelter, represent resilience and adaptation. Their existence in the wild is a testament to the enduring power of nature and reminds us of the importance of preserving and protecting our natural environment. Therefore, it’s crucial to do everything we can to help these beautiful birds survive the ongoing changes to our environment.