The Red-legged Partridge was introduced to Britain in the 1600s by Charles II, having brought them from France to provide target practice for guns. They are now resident and outnumber our native Grey Partridge.
Males and females are alike and are very attractive game birds:
Juveniles are similar to juvenile Grey Partridges.
| Scientific Name | Alectoris rufa |
| Length | 32-35 cm (13-14") |
| Wing Span | 45-50 cm (18-20") |
| Weight | 500-550 g (18-20 oz) |
| Breeding Pairs | 170000 |
| Present | All Year |
| Status | Green |
The male's song is a loud, rhythmic chuffing call: "chuck-chukka-chuff".
Red-legged Partridge have a similar diet to Grey Partridge, chiefly leaves, roots and seeds of grasses, cereals and weeds, and occasionally insects especially when feeding chicks.
They usually nest among bushes in scrub, arable farmland, or hedgerows. Like the Quail and Grey Partridge, the nest is a shallow hollow on the ground and lined with plant material.
Red-legged Partridge are peculiar in that the female may build two nests, lay a clutch in each and then the male and female take care of each brood simultaneously and independently. The eggs are smooth and glossy, yellowish-white with reddish-buff or greyish markings, and about 41 mm by 31 mm.
The nestlings are precocial (see feathers) and led away from the nest shortly after hatching. The wing feathers grow quickly and they can flutter quite early. The brood remain together until the following breeding season.
| Breeding Starts | Clutches | Eggs | Incubation (days) | Fledge (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| late April | 1 | 10-16 | 23-25 | - |
British birds are sedentary, moving usually no more than a few kilometres from their natal grounds (place of hatching).
The decline in the Grey Partridge is often blamed on the Red-legged Partridge but there is no evidence to support this. In fact, when both species occur together, the Grey Partridge are usually in greater numbers.
