Fun Grey Partridge Facts For Kids

If someone asks you to tell them about an animal who can fly and is very cute and fascinating, then what would be your answer? Of course, it would be a bird. Birds are one of the most fascinating  creatures on this planet. There are about 3800 species of bird on this planet, and many more are still yet to be found. All of these 3800 species are distinct and wonderful. A grey partridge (Perdix perdix) is  amongst them. Though their numbers have declined in the last few years, as per IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the gray partridge has been categorized under the conservation category of Least Concern as adequate numbers of these birds are present in the wild.  

The grey legged partridge is a bird found in the regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. These species have a lot of interesting, fun facts to learn about.  Now that we have an insight into its population, class, and reproduction style of partridges, we shall move forward with some really interesting fun facts about grey partridges. So, let's get to know all about these interesting, fun facts about the grey partridge. Grey partridge facts will offer you great insights into this famous birds species, and after do check out our other articles on hornbill and Atlantic puffin.

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What type of animal is a grey partridge?

A gray partridge is a bird of the phasianidae family. These birds have a striking resemblance to that of a chicken. They are medium-sized, cute-looking birds having a small orange face and a chestnut tail.

What class of animal does a grey partridge belong to?

A grey partridge (Perdix perdix) belongs to the Ave class of the family non-native to North America. Their population is spread across various regions including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

How many grey partridges are there in the world?

The population of grey partridges is stable and abundant. There are said to be 3.9-7.6 million grey partridges in the world.

Where does a grey partridge live?

Grey partridges are common in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. They have also been introduced in North America as a non-native species but are quite common in Canada and United Sates.

What is a grey partridge's habitat?

Grey partridge birds make their home in cultivated land, hedgerows, bushy pastures, meadows, grasslands, and agricultural fields. They nest on a ground nest, which is not common for most other birds.

Who do grey partridges live with?

Common grey partridge birds live in groups which are known as coveys. There can be 20 or more birds in a covey. Birds in a covey stay together in the entire autumn and winter season. These birds may start to leave the covey at the beginning of January as the winter draws its end.

How long does a grey partridge live?

The average lifespan of grey partridge is three years. Their population is common across various regions of Europe, Africa, Asian, and Middle-East. The covey of these birds will stay together during the autumn and winter.

How do they reproduce?

Partridges make their nests on the ground, with a small number of grasses. Females lay 10-20 eggs per nest. The nest of a grey partridge is present in the margin of a cereal field and is a ground nest. The grey partridge eggs can take about three to four weeks to hatch.

What is their conservation status?

Grey partridges are found in abundance, and they are not a very rare species of bird, so their conservation status is least concerned as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Though their numbers have declined in the last few years, there are still adequate numbers present of this species in the wild.  

What do grey partridges look like?

Grey partridges are also known as the Hungarian partridge. The grey partridge look similar to a chicken. They have an orange-colored face, grey neck, and brown chest feathers. The wingspan of the partridge is 21-23 in and the wings and tail feathers are round and short and can be brown, rust, white and gray in color.

How cute are they?

Yes, the partridges are indeed very cute creatures. Their chicken-like appearance and small size makes them look cute and adorable.

How do they communicate?

In order to communicate, the partridges make short and scratchy calls. These calls are not even one second long.

How big is a grey partridge?

A grey partridge is not a very big bird. The average height of a partridge is 12 in. It is almost three times bigger than a hummingbird.

How high can a grey partridge fly?

Partridges can not fly well. Their inability to fly categorizes them as a non-migratory bird. They usually stay in one place.

How much does a grey partridge weigh?

The average weight of a grey partridge is 0.85-1.10 lb.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The males and females are called male partridge and female partridge respectively.

What would you call a baby grey partridge?

A baby partridge is known as a cheepeer. In appearance, it is primarily yellow-brown in color.

What do they eat?

Grey partridges are omnivores, and they have a distinct dietary style. Their diet pattern can vary depending upon the type of food available and the age level or stage in life.

During the first three weeks of their life, the partridges have to intake proteins in an abundant amount to aid the development of the bones and muscles. During this stage, more than 50% of the partridge's diet consists of small insects, such as crickets, beetles, and larvae.

When these birds reach the age of three weeks, they become almost entirely vegetarian. Around 95% of their diet at this stage consists of vegetarian or plant-based foods like fruits, leaves, weed seeds, roots, and flowers. The remaining 5% of the diet is fulfilled through proteins like insects and lichens.

Partridge, when kept in captivity, can feed on commercialized kibbles and mixtures as the base of their diet. However, more emphasis should be given to providing them with fresh food as fresh food will keep them well-nourished and healthy.

Are they aggressive?

No, grey partridges are not aggressive. During the non-breeding season, they are calm and non-territorial. But in the arrival of the breeding season, the breeding grey partridge males become a bit aggressive and territorial.

Would they make a good pet?

Grey partridges are wild birds, so are not suitable for pet life. They are fearful of humans and not suitable for indoor life. Keeping a partridge as a pet is illegal in many places.

Did you know...

Partridges are usually clean and hygienic animals. They have a habit of daily grooming within their natural environment. Daily grooming keeps them clean and healthy and also helps in keeping the parasites and harmful microorganisms away.

Although the grey partridge is not a rare and threatened bird species. The population of the grey partridges is declining, and the reason for this decline is intensive cultivation, loss of breeding habitat, and the insecticides being used on crops are reducing the insect numbers, which is an important food source for these birds.

The number of their population has reduced in these areas by almost 85 percent in the last 25 years. In order to reduce this decline, some efforts are being made by organizations like Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in Great Britain.

When do grey partridges breed?

The breeding season of grey partridges can vary depending upon the range, but usually, it occurs from late April to June, and a second clutch can occur in the late summers. Partridges make their nests on the ground, with a small number of grasses. Females lay 10-20 eggs per nest. The partridge eggs can take about three to four weeks to hatch.

If you wish to breed and reproduce partridges in captivity, then it is really important to ensure proper hygiene habits. For this, the breeders have to clean the feeders and water bowls daily and disinfect cages at least twice a month.

Apart from disinfecting and cleaning, it’s also essential to provide them with proper preventative medicine. Proper medication will help in preventing many diseases.

What is the scientific name for a grey partridge?

The grey partridge belongs to the Perdix genus, and so it gets its scientific name as Perdix perdix.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including grouse, or pheasant.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our grey partridge coloring page.