Red-legged Partridge

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Red-legged Partridge in the UK

An introduced resident, native to France, Iberia and north-west Italy. It became established in England in the late 1700s after hand-reared birds were released on a Suffolk estate. The breeding population is about 73,000 territories, most of them in England, with fewer in Wales, the Isle of Man and eastern and south-western Scotland. Around 10 million reared birds have been released for shooting each year in recent times, so autumn numbers dwarf the wild stock. The long-term breeding trend is down. As a non-native it has no Red or Amber listing.

Where and when to see a Red-legged Partridge

Arable farmland on light, dry soils, all year. Eastern and central England hold the most: East Anglia, Lincolnshire, the East Midlands and the chalk downs. Scan field edges, bare plough, farm tracks and the tops of straw bales or barn roofs, where birds like to stand. Early morning and evening are best. From late summer, groups gather near shoots and game cover. It prefers to run from danger, so look well ahead along tracks.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Arable farmland.
Diet: Seeds, leaves, insects.
Field note: Striking face pattern; introduced.

How to identify a Red-legged Partridge

Slightly larger and plumper than a Grey Partridge. The face is the feature: a white throat and cheeks framed by a black line that breaks into a necklace of black streaks on the breast. Bill, eye-ring and legs are red. The flanks have bold bars of chestnut, black and cream, and the back is plain sandy brown. The sexes look alike. Juveniles are plainer and lack the face pattern. When flushed it flies low on whirring wings, then glides on bowed wings, showing rusty outer tail feathers.

Call and song

A rhythmic, chuffing 'chuk, chuk, chukar', like a small steam engine getting going. Often given from a post, bale or roof, mostly at dawn and dusk. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Grey Partridge: Grey Partridge has an orange face, grey breast, a dark horseshoe on the belly and no black necklace or red bill.
• Ring-necked Pheasant: A young or female Pheasant is larger and longer-tailed, mottled brown all over with no face pattern.
• Chukar: Chukar has a cream throat with a clean black border and no streaked necklace below it.

Related guide Bird migration in Britain.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Red-legged Partridge is a Common tier bird, worth +1 point when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Barbary PartridgeLegendary · Hills (extreme vagrant)
• Rock PartridgeLegendary · Mountains (very rare vagrant)
• Barn SwallowCommon · Farmland (summer)
• Canada GooseCommon · Lakes
• Collared DoveCommon · Gardens
• Common BuzzardCommon · Farmland

Red-legged Partridge: quick answers

Is the Red-legged Partridge rare in the UK?

No. It is common across lowland England and in many areas now outnumbers the native Grey Partridge. It is scarce or missing in the uplands, in much of western Britain and in northern Scotland.

What does a Red-legged Partridge eat?

Seeds, leaves and roots for most of the year, picked from the ground in fields and margins. Chicks need insects in their first weeks. Birds also visit game feeders put out with grain.

What habitat does Red-legged Partridge live in?

Open, dry farmland with a mix of crops, bare ground and hedges or rough margins for cover. It copes with drier, more open ground than Grey Partridge and does poorly on wet, heavy soils. A female lays 10 to 16 eggs and may lay two clutches, with the male sitting on one.

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