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Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix

Not yet photographed by the community

Native farmland bird; orange face and chestnut horseshoe.

Species Profile

Red List (Birds of Conservation Concern)

Lifespan: 5–7 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 29–31 cm, wingspan 45–52 cm; 330–450 g
Habitat: Open farmland, grassland, and cultivated fields with scattered scrub and hedgerows.
UK Distribution: Widespread resident across lowland Britain and Ireland, though populations have declined significantly since the 1990s. Found year-round but numbers boosted by released birds in autumn.
Diet: Omnivorous; chicks eat insects and invertebrates, whilst adults consume seeds, grain, leaves, and insects, with diet becoming increasingly herbivorous in winter.
Predators: Red fox, stoat, weasel, and birds of prey including Sparrowhawk and Kestrel; nest predation by corvids, rats, and hedgehogs.
Mating Season: March to June
Breeding: Single clutch of 9–16 eggs, incubation period 23–25 days. Chicks fledge at 14–16 days and become independent at 10–12 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly territorial and gregarious, forming coveys of 5–15 birds in autumn and winter. Predominantly ground-dwelling, relying on camouflage and running to escape danger rather than flying. Males perform a distinctive rasping call during breeding season.

Did You Know?

•The Grey Partridge has suffered a 90% population decline in the UK since 1994, primarily due to intensive agriculture and loss of hedgerow habitats.
•Both parents share incubation and brooding duties, making them relatively unusual among game birds.
•Chicks can feed themselves within 24 hours of hatching and follow parents in a tight family group for protection.
•They produce a characteristic loud, rasping 'chur-chur-chur' alarm call when disturbed.
•Wild populations are now supplemented by thousands of captive-bred birds released annually for shooting, which can affect disease dynamics and genetic diversity.

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