Birds Guide

Partridges
Crested Wood Partridge. The male has the red crest
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae†
Genera
Perdix Alectoris Lerwa Bambusicola Ptilopachus Rollulus Haematortyx Caloperdix Arborophila Xenoperdix Melanoperdix †See also Pheasant

Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.

These are medium-sized birds intermediate between the large pheasants and the small quails. The partridges are ground-nesting seed-eaters. Many species are hunted for sport or food as game.

Species list

• Genus Lerwa
  • Snow Partridge, Lerwa lerwa
• Genus Alectoris
  • Arabian Partridge, Alectoris melanocephala
    Przevalski's Partridge, Alectoris magna
    Rock Partridge, Alectoris graeca
    Chukar, Alectoris chukar (National bird of Pakistan)
    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
• 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
  • Common Hill Partridge, Arborophila torqueola
    Sichuan Hill Partridge, Arborophila rufipectus
    Chestnut-breasted Hill Partridge, Arborophila mandellii
    Collared Hill Partridge, Arborophila gingica
    Rufous-throated Hill Partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
    White-cheeked Hill Partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
    Taiwan Hill Partridge, Arborophila crudigularis
    Hainan Hill Partridge, Arborophila ardens
    Chestnut-bellied Partridge, Arborophila javanica
    Grey-breasted Hill Partridge, Arborophila orientalis
    Brown-breasted Hill Partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus
    Orange-necked Hill Partridge, Arborophila davidi
    Chestnut-headed Hill Partridge, Arborophila cambodiana
    Bornean Hill Partridge, Arborophila hyperythra
    Red-billed Hill Partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris
    Green-legged Hill Partridge, Arborophila chloropus
    Annam Hill Partridge, Arborophila merlini
    Chestnut-necklaced Hill Partridge, Arborophila charltonii
• Genus Caloperdix
  • Ferruginous Wood Partridge, Caloperdix oculea
• Genus Haematortyx
  • Crimson-headed Partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps
• Genus Rollulus
  • Crested Wood Partridge, Rollulus roulroul
• Genus Ptilopachus
  • Stone Partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
• Genus Bambusicola
  • Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
  • Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Bambusicola thoracica

The partridge in culture

The partridge is also the subject of a popular English Christmas song, the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Sanskrit term Kapinjala, rendered as "francoline partridge" or "heathcock" by translators, appears as a mythical bird in the Rigveda (RV 2.42, 43) and is identified as an aspect of Indra.

External links

• Partridge videos on the Internet Bird Collection