Grey Partridge
Perdix perdix
RSPB Conservation Status – Red
Last seen – 24-1-23
The Grey Partridge is a small game bird.
The bird has a plump, round body with a grey-brown back, grey breast, and distinctive chestnut markings on its sides.
The Grey Partridge has experienced a significant decline in its population in the UK over the last few decades.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the bird’s population has declined by around 85% since the 1970s, with an estimated population of only around 40,000 breeding pairs left in the country.
Facts
Population – 40,000
Length – 30 cm
Wingspan – 46 cm
Weight – 390 g
Breeding
Grey Partridges breed between April and August, with females laying a clutch of 10-20 eggs in a shallow scrape on the ground.
The eggs are incubated for around 24-26 days, and the chicks are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching.
The birds often nest in groups, with several females laying their eggs in the same nest.
Habitat
Grey Partridges prefer grassy habitats with hedgerows, fields, and farmland, as well as open woodland and scrubland.
They are often found in lowland areas with a mixture of arable and grassland habitats.
In winter, they may also use wetland habitats.
Food
The Grey Partridge is primarily a seed-eating bird, feeding on a variety of plant materials such as cereal crops, grasses, and weeds.
They may also eat insects and other small invertebrates, particularly during the breeding season.