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Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufa

Not yet photographed by the community

Introduced from Europe; bolder facial markings than Grey.

Species Profile

Amber List (introduced species; small UK population dependent on releases and restocking).

Lifespan: 5–8 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 32–35 cm, wingspan 46–52 cm; 270–330 g
Habitat: Open, dry grassland, scrubland, and cultivated areas with sparse vegetation and bare ground.
UK Distribution: Introduced and now established in southern England, particularly in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent; also in parts of the Midlands and East Anglia. Resident year-round.
Diet: Seeds, leaves, shoots, and insects, with a strong preference for plant material; feeds by foraging on the ground.
Predators: Foxes, stoats, weasels, raptors (particularly Buzzards and Sparrowhawks), and corvids; eggs and chicks are vulnerable to crows and magpies.
Mating Season: March to June
Breeding: Clutch of 10–16 eggs; incubation period 23–24 days; typically one brood per year; chicks are precocial and fledge at 14–16 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly gregarious, forming coveys of 5–30 birds outside the breeding season. Runs rather than flies when disturbed, only taking flight as a last resort. Males are territorial during breeding season and perform distinctive calling displays.

Did You Know?

•The Red-legged Partridge was introduced to the UK in the 18th century for shooting; it is now self-sustaining in parts of southern England.
•Its striking facial markings feature a bold black and white head pattern with a red eye-ring and red legs, making it easily identifiable.
•Unlike native Grey Partridges, Red-legged Partridges are more reluctant to fly and prefer to escape predators by running.
•Coveys communicate with loud, distinctive calls described as 'chucka-chucka-chukar', particularly at dawn and dusk.
•The species is naturally found across southern Europe and North Africa, thriving in Mediterranean-type climates similar to southern England.

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