Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix

A plump, ground-dwelling gamebird that thrives in farmland across Europe and North America, known for its distinctive "rust-bucket" call.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Grey Partridge is a plump, medium-sized game bird with a distinctive rounded body shape. Its plumage is primarily greyish-brown, featuring intricate barring and vermiculation patterns that provide excellent camouflage in grassland habitats.

Both sexes have similar colouration, with a grey breast, an orange-brown face, and a dark brown horseshoe-shaped patch on the lower belly. Females tend to be slightly smaller.

Juveniles look similar to adult females, although they lack the chestnut marking across the breast and rust-coloured face plumage. They also have yellowish (not grey) legs.

Size

Length

28cm to 32cm

Wingspan

45cm to 48cm

Weight

290g to 475g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Buff Rufous

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Special Accolade

Prolific Parent

Largest typical clutch size among birds

Record: Up to 20 eggs per clutch

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Grey Partridge can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Grey Partridge can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Grey Partridge is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Grey Partridges are native to Europe and parts of Asia. They prefer open landscapes such as farmland, grasslands, and steppe habitats. They thrive in areas with a mix of cultivated fields, hedgerows, and uncultivated margins.

In the UK, they are found across lowland areas, while in North America, they have been successfully introduced and are now established in parts of Canada and the northern United States.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,600 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Continental

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Grey Partridge. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons