Partridge

Common name for a type of bird

For other uses, see Partridge (disambiguation).

"Heathcock" redirects here. For other uses, see Heathcock (disambiguation).

Partridge

Crested wood partridge
(Rollulus rouloul)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Aves
Order:  | Galliformes
Superfamily:  | Phasianoidea
Family:  | Phasianidae
Groups included

* Perdicinae (former)
* Rollulinae, Phasianinae, and Pavoninae (current)

Alectoris
Ammoperdix
Arborophila
Bambusicola
Haematortyx
Lerwa
Margaroperdix
Melanoperdix
Perdix
Rhizothera
Rollulus
Tetraophasis
Xenoperdix

A partridge is a medium-sized galliform bird in any of several genera, with a wide native distribution throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Several species have been introduced to the Americas. They are sometimes grouped in the Perdicinae subfamily of the Phasianidae (pheasants, quail, etc.). However, molecular research suggests that partridges are not a distinct taxon within the family Phasianidae, but that some species are closer to the pheasants, while others are closer to the junglefowl.[1]

Birds of Persia luchas, called būqalamūn (بوقلمون turkey in Persian), and partridges The so-called "Vučedol dove", one of the most well-known emblems of the prehistorical Vučedol culture, is now interpreted as representing a male partridge as a symbol of fertility

## Description

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Partridges are medium-sized game birds, generally intermediate in size between the larger pheasants, smaller quail; they're ground-dwelling birds that feature variable plumage colouration across species, with most tending to grey and brown.

## Range and habitat

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Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Some species are found nesting on steppes or agricultural land, while other species prefer more forested areas. They nest on the ground and have a diet consisting of seeds and insects.

## Hunting

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Species such as the grey partridge and the red-legged partridge are popular as game birds, and are often reared in captivity and released for the purpose of hunting. For the same reason, they have been introduced into large areas of North America.

Red-legged partridge. Chestnut-bellied partridge. Scaly-breasted partridge. Grey partridge.

## Cultural references

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According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when Daedalus threw his apprentice, Talos, off the sacred hill of Athena in a fit of jealous rage. Supposedly mindful of his fall, the bird does not build its nest in the trees, nor take lofty flights and avoids high places.[2]

As described by medieval scholar Madeleine Pelner Cosman, medical practitioners in the Middle Ages recommended partridge as a food of love: They suggested that "Partridge was superior in arousing dulled passions and increasing the powers of engendering. Gentle to the human stomach, partridge stimulated bodily fluids, raised the spirits, and firmed the muscles."[3]

Probably the most famous reference to the partridge is in the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".[4] The first gift listed is "a partridge in a pear tree", and these words end each verse. Since partridges are unlikely to be seen in pear trees (they are ground-nesting birds)[5] it has been suggested that the text "a pear tree" is a corruption of the French "une perdrix" (a partridge).[6]

The partridge has also been used as a symbol that represents Kurdish nationalism. It is called Kew. Sherko Kurmanj discusses the paradox of symbols in Iraq as an attempt to make a distinction between the Kurds and the Arabs. He says that while Iraqis generally regards the palm tree, falcon, and sword as their national symbols, the Kurds consider the oak, partridge, and dagger as theirs.[7]

## Species list in taxonomic order

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* Genus Lerwa
* Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa
* Genus Tetraophasis
* Verreaux's monal-partridge, Tetraophasis obscurus
* Szechenyi's monal-partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii
* Genus Alectoris
* Arabian partridge, Alectoris melanocephala
* Przevalski's partridge, Alectoris magna
* Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca
* Chukar, Alectoris chukar
* Philby's partridge, Alectoris philbyi
* Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
* Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
* Genus Ammoperdix
* See-see partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis
* Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi
* Genus Perdix
* Grey partridge, Perdix perdix
* Daurian partridge, Perdix dauurica
* Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae
* Genus Rhizothera
* Long-billed partridge, Rhizothera longirostris
* Dulit partridge, Rhizothera dulitensis
* Genus Margaroperdix
* Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagascarensis
* Genus Melanoperdix
* Black wood-partridge, Melanoperdix nigra
* Genus Xenoperdix
* Rubeho forest partridge, Xenoperdix obscuratus
* Udzungwa forest partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis
* Genus Arborophila, the hill partridges
* Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola
* Sichuan partridge, Arborophila rufipectus
* Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii
* White-necklaced partridge, Arborophila gingica
* Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
* White-cheeked partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
* Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis
* Hainan partridge, Arborophila ardens
* Chestnut-bellied partridge, Arborophila javanica
* Grey-breasted partridge, Arborophila orientalis
* Bar-backed partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus
* Orange-necked partridge, Arborophila davidi
* Chestnut-headed partridge, Arborophila cambodiana
* Red-breasted partridge, Arborophila hyperythra
* Red-billed partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris
* Sumatran partridge, Arborophila sumatrana
* Genus Tropicoperdix
* Scaly-breasted partridge, Tropicoperdix chloropus
* Chestnut-necklaced partridge, Tropicoperdix charltonii
* Genus Caloperdix
* Ferruginous partridge, Caloperdix oculea
* Genus Haematortyx
* Crimson-headed partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps
* Genus Rollulus
* Crested partridge, Rollulus roulroul
* Genus Bambusicola
* Mountain bamboo partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
* Chinese bamboo partridge, Bambusicola thoracica

## See also

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* Dick Potts, English ecologist and specialist in the grey partridge.

## References

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1. ^ Kimball, R. T.; Braun, E. L.; Zwartjes, P. W.; Crowe, T. M.; Ligon, J. D. (1999). "Molecular phylogenetics and evolution: A molecular phylogeny of the pheasants and partridges". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 11 (1): 38–54\. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0562. PMID 10082609.
2. ^ Holmes, Richard (2013). Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air. HarperCollins. p. 1760\. ISBN 9780007467259. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
3. ^ Cosman, Madeleine Pelner (1 July 1983). "A Feast for Aesculapius: Historical Diets for Asthma and Sexual Pleasure". Annual Review of Nutrition. 3 (1): 1–34\. doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.03.070183.000245. ISSN 0199-9885. PMID 6357233. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
4. ^ The Associated Press (November 26, 2012). "'12 days of Christmas' cost: How much is a partridge in a pear tree?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
5. ^ "Do partridges occur in pear trees?". All About Birds. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
6. ^ Lawson-Jones, Mark (2011). Why Was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?. The History Press. p. 55\. ISBN 9780752477503.
7. ^ Kurmanj, Sherko (2014). "The Roots of Modern Kurdish Nationalism". In Bengio, Ofra (ed.). Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fragmented Homeland. University of Texas Press. p. 96\. ISBN 978-0-292-75813-1.

## External links

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Look up partridge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phasianidae.

* Videos, photos and sounds \- Internet Bird Collection

* v
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Phasianidae

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Chordata
* Class: Aves
* Order: Galliformes

Subfamily Phasianinae

| Tribe Lerwini|

| Lerwa|

* Snow partridge (L. lerwa)

|

Tribe Ithaginini|

| Ithaginis|

* Blood pheasant (I. cruentus)

|

Tribe Lophophorini|

| Tragopan|

* Blyth's tragopan (T. blythii)
* Cabot's tragopan (T. caboti)
* Western tragopan (T. melanocephalus)
* Satyr tragopan (T. satyra)
* Temminck's tragopan (T. temminckii)

|

Tetraophasis|

* Verreaux's monal-partridge (T. obscurus)
* Szechenyi's monal-partridge (T. szechenyii)

Lophophorus|

* Himalayan monal (L. impejanus)
* Sclater's monal (L. sclateri)
* Chinese monal (L. lhuysii)

Tribe Pucrasiini|

| Pucrasia|

* Koklass pheasant (P. macrolopha)

|

Tribe Meleagridini|

| Meleagris|

* Wild turkey (M. gallopavo)
* Ocellated turkey (M. ocellata)
* † Californian turkey (M. californica)

|

Tribe Tetraonini
Grouse|

| Canachites|

* Spruce grouse (C. canadensis)
* Franklin's grouse (C. canadensis franklinii)

|

Falcipennis|

* Siberian grouse (F. falcipennis)

Dendragapus|

* Dusky grouse (D. obscurus)
* Sooty grouse (D. fuliginosus)

Lagopus|

* Willow ptarmigan (L. lagopus)
* Red grouse (L. l. scotica)
* Rock ptarmigan (L. muta)
* White-tailed ptarmigan (L. leucura)

Tetrao|

* Western capercaillie (T. urogallus)
* Cantabrian capercaillie (T. u. cantabricus)
* Black-billed capercaillie (T. urogalloides)

Lyrurus|

* Black grouse (L. tetrix)
* Caucasian grouse (L. mlokosiewiczi)

Tetrastes|

* Hazel grouse (T. bonasia)
* Chinese grouse (T. sewerzowi)

Bonasa|

* Ruffed grouse (B. umbellus)

Centrocercus|

* Greater sage-grouse (C. urophasianus)
* Gunnison grouse (C. minimus)

Tympanuchus|

* Sharp-tailed grouse (T. phasianellus)
* Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (T. p. columbianus)
* Greater prairie-chicken (T. cupido)
* Heath hen (extinct)
* Attwater's prairie-chicken (T. c. attwateri)
* Lesser prairie-chicken (T. pallidicinctus)

Tribe Rhizotherini|

| Rhizothera|

* Long-billed partridge (R. longirostris)
* Dulit partridge (R. dulitensis)

|

Tribe Phasianini|

| Perdix|

* Grey partridge (P. perdix)
* Daurian partridge (P. dauurica)
* Tibetan partridge (P. hodgsoniae)

|

Syrmaticus|

* Elliot's pheasant (S. ellioti)
* Mrs. Hume's pheasant (S. humiae)
* Mikado pheasant (S. mikado)
* Copper pheasant (S. soemmerringi)
* Reeve's pheasant (S. reevesi)

Chrysolophus|

* Lady Amherst's pheasant (C. amherstiae)
* Golden pheasant (C. pictus)

Phasianus|

* Common pheasant (P. colchicus)
* Green pheasant (P. versicolor)

Catreus|

* Cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichi)

Crossoptilon|

* Blue eared pheasant (C. auritum)
* White eared pheasant (C. crossoptilon)
* Tibetan eared pheasant (C. harmani)
* Brown eared pheasant (C.mantchuricum)

Lophura|

* Bulwer's pheasant (L. bulweri)
* Siamese fireback (L. diardi)
* Edward's pheasant (L. edwardsi)
* Crestless fireback (L. erythrophthalma)
* Vietnamese pheasant (L. hatinhensis)
* Crested fireback (L. ignita)
* Imperial pheasant (L. imperialis)
* Salvadori's pheasant (L. inornata)
* Hoogerwerf's pheasant (L. i. hoogerwerfi)
* Kalij pheasant (L. leucomelanos)
* Silver pheasant (L. nycthemera)
* Swinhoe's pheasant (L. swinhoii)

Subfamily Rollulinae

| Xenoperdix|

* Rubeho forest partridge (X. obscuratus)
* Udzungwa forest partridge (X. udzungwensis)

|

Caloperdix|

* Ferruginous partridge (C. oculeus)

Rollulus|

* Crested partridge (R. rouloul)

Melanoperdix|

* Black partridge (M. niger)

Arborophila|

* Hill partridge (A. torqueola)
* Sichuan partridge (A. rufipectus)
* Chestnut-breasted partridge (A. mandellii)
* White-necklaced partridge (A. gingica)
* Rufous-throated partridge (A. rufogularis)
* Red-billed partridge (A.a rubrirostris)
* Siamese partridge (A. diversa)
* Chestnut-headed partridge (A. cambodiana)
* Hainan partridge (A. ardens)
* Taiwan partridge (A. crudigularis)
* White-cheeked partridge (A. atrogularis)
* Bar-backed partridge (A. brunneopectus)
* Orange-necked partridge (A. davidi)
* Red-breasted partridge (A. hyperythra)
* Malayan partridge (A. campbelli)
* Roll's partridge (A. rolli)
* Sumatran partridge (A. sumatrana)
* Chestnut-bellied partridge (A. javanica)
* Grey-breasted partridge (A. orientalis)

Subfamily Pavoninae

| Tribe Pavonini|

| Rheinardia|

* Vietnamese crested argus (R. ocellata)
* Malayan crested argus (R. nigrescens)

|

Argusianus|

* Great argus (A. argus)

Afropavo|

* Congo peafowl (A. congensis)

Pavo|

* Indian peafowl (P. cristatus)
* Green peafowl (P. muticus)

Tropicoperdix|

* Chestnut-necklaced partridge (T. charltonii)
* Green-legged partridge (T. chloropus)

Tribe Polyplectronini|

| Haematortyx|

* Crimson-headed partridge (H. sanguiniceps)

|

Galloperdix|

* Red spurfowl (G. spadicea)
* Painted spurfowl (G. lunulata)
* Sri Lanka spurfowl (G. bicalcarata)

Polyplectron|

* Grey peacock-pheasant (P. bicalcaratum)
* Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant (P. chalcurum)
* Palawan peacock-pheasant (P. emphanum)
* Germain's peacock-pheasant (P. germaini)
* Mountain peacock-pheasant (P. inopinatum)
* Hainan peacock-pheasant (P. katsumatae)
* Malayan peacock-pheasant (P. malacense)
* Bornean peacock-pheasant (P. schleiermacheri)

Tribe Gallini|

| Bambusicola|

* Mountain bamboo partridge (B. fytchii)
* Chinese bamboo partridge (B. thoracicus)
* Taiwan bamboo partridge (B. sonorivox)

|

Gallus|

* Red junglefowl (G. gallus)
* Sri Lankan junglefowl (G. lafayetii)
* Grey junglefowl (G. sonneratii)
* Green junglefowl (G. varius)

Peliperdix|

* Latham's francolin (P. lathami)

Ortygornis|

* Crested francolin (O. sephaena)
* Grey francolin (O. pondicerianus)
* Swamp francolin (O. gularis)

Francolinus|

* Black francolin (F. francolinus)
* Painted francolin (F. pictus)
* Chinese francolin (F. pintadeanus)

Campocolinus|

* Coqui francolin (C. coqui)
* White-throated francolin, (C. albogularis)
* Schlegel's francolin (C. schlegelii)

Scleroptila|

* Ring-necked francolin (S. streptophora)
* Red-winged francolin (S. levaillantii)
* Finsch's francolin (S. finschi)
* Moorland francolin (S. psilolaema)
* Grey-winged francolin (S. afra)
* Orange River francolin (S. gutturalis)
* Shelley's francolin (S. shelleyi)

Tribe Coturnicini|

| Tetraogallus|

* Caucasian snowcock (T. caucasicus)
* Caspian snowcock (T. caspius)
* Himalayan snowcock (T. himalayensis)
* Tibetan snowcock (T. tibetanus)
* Altai snowcock (T. altaicus)

|

Ammoperdix|

* See-see partridge (A. griseogularis)
* Sand partridge (A. heyi)

Synoicus|

* Brown quail (S. ypsilophorus)
* Snow Mountain quail (S. monorthonyx)
* Blue quail (S. adansonii)
* King quail (S. chinensis)

Margaroperdix|

* Madagascar partridge (M. madagarensis)

Coturnix|

* Rain quail (C. coromandelica)
* Harlequin quail (C. delegorguei)
* Common quail (C. coturnix)
* Japanese quail (C. japonica)
* Stubble quail (C. pectoralis)

Alectoris|

* Arabian partridge (A. melanocephala)
* Przevalski's partridge (A. magna)
* Rock partridge (A. graeca)
* Chukar partridge (A. chukar)
* Philby's partridge (A. philbyi)
* Barbary partridge (A. barbara)
* Red-legged partridge (A. rufa)

Perdicula|

* Jungle bush quail (P. asiatica)
* Rock bush quail (P. argoondah)
* Painted bush quail (P. erythrorhyncha)
* Manipur bush quail (P. manipurensis)

Ophrysia|

* Himalayan quail (O. superciliosa) (possibly extinct)

Pternistis|

* Hartlaub's spurfowl (P. hartlaubi)
* Mount Cameroon spurfowl (P. camerunensis)
* Handsome spurfowl (P. nobilis)
* Chestnut-naped spurfowl (P. castaneicollis)
* Black-fronted spurfowl (P. atrifrons)
* Erckel's spurfowl (P. erckelii)
* Djibouti spurfowl (P. ochropectus)
* Swierstra's spurfowl (P. swierstrai)
* Ahanta spurfowl (P. ahantensis)
* Grey-striped spurfowl (P. griseostriatus)
* Jackson's spurfowl (P. jacksoni)
* Red-billed spurfowl (P. adspersus)
* Cape spurfowl (P. capensis)
* Natal spurfowl (P. natalensis)
* Hildebrandt's spurfowl (P. hildebrandti)
* Double-spurred spurfowl (P. bicalcaratus)
* Scaly spurfowl (P. squamatus)
* Heuglin's spurfowl (P. icterorhynchus)
* Clapperton's spurfowl (P. clappertoni)
* Harwood's spurfowl (P. harwoodi)
* Swainson's spurfowl (P. swainsonii)
* Yellow-necked spurfowl (P. leucoscepus)
* Grey-breasted spurfowl (P. rufopictus)
* Red-necked spurfowl (P. afer)

185 living species in 32 genera

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Human use of birds

Activities|

* Aviculture
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Products|

* Chicken
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In the arts|

* In art
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Species|

* Golden eagle
* Penguin
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* Raven
* of the Tower of London

People|

* Illustrators
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* Thomas Bewick
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Related|

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Authority control databases

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*[†]: Extinct