red-legged partridge

Natural range of the red-legged partidge is western Europe, Corsica and the Canary Islands. It breeds naturally in south western Europe, in France and Iberia and has become naturalised in southern England. It has been introduced into many places worldwide, including the Canary Islands, the Azores, United Kingdon, Greece, Algeria, New Zealand and some parts of North America. In New Zealand, introductions in the late 19th century met with little success but attempts in the 1980s has met with mixed success. The species is now common on many game bird preserves

Their preferred habitat is dry lowlands, farmland and rolling hill country with scrubby gullies which supplies dense cover.

The Red-legged Partridge was introduced to Britain in the 1600s by Charles II, having brought them from France to provide target practice for guns. They are now resident and outnumber the native Grey Partridge.

—  Greytown, Wairarapa, 2009

red-legged partridge
 
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Galliformes
Family:Phasianidae
Genera:Alectoris
Species:rufa
Sub Species: 

Other common names:  — 

French partridge

Description:  — 

Introduced bird

31 cm; like chukor in size, plumage, red legs, red bill and voice but has black necklace higher on throat and streaked black and white on lower throat. Sexes alike.

Where to find:  — 

Birds were released between Kaipara Harbour and Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Upper Moutere Valley near Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury.

Youtube video  — 

»»»  Red-legged partridge

Credit for the photograph: — 

Illustration description: — 

 

Gould, John, Birds of Great Britain, 1862-73.

Reference(s): — 

 

Heather, B., & Robertson, H., Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, 2000.

Page date & version: — 

 

Saturday, 30 October, 2010; ver2009v1

 
 

©  2005    Narena Olliver,    new zealand birds limited,     Greytown, New Zealand.