Grey partridge

A ground-dwelling partridge of agricultural landscapes.

Field guide

A ground-dwelling partridge of agricultural landscapes.

Identification

Shared features

Rounded brown-gray bird with an orange face and dark belly patch, often in small coveys.

Male

The male has an orange face and usually a bold dark horseshoe patch on the lower breast. That patch can be faint or missing in young males.

Female

The female also has an orange face; her breast patch is usually smaller or absent. Some females carry a horseshoe patch, so check the barred shoulder feathers and overall pattern too.

Habitat

Grain fields, grassy field margins, hedgerows and other open farmland.

Where to look during the day

Morning

At dawn, look for coveys feeding at quiet field edges.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, check grassy cover and stubble where birds can hide.

Evening

At dusk, watch open margins as coveys feed again.

Sounds

A rough, repeated 'kieerr' call, especially when birds take flight.

Recorded calls

Grey partridge

Field recording of a grey partridge. A narrower call type or the caller's sex is not assigned to this clip.

Jochem Verweij · Recording source

Natural history source: Read the source

Bag limits

Bag and possession summaries.

-All grouse and grey partridge: bag limit of five per day, and a total possession limit of 15.

Daily: 5Possession: 15

Official bag-limit source