Editing Red-legged partridge

{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Red-legged partridge
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=''Alectoris rufa'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T22678711A183481909 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22678711A183481909.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Perdrix rouge.jpg
| genus = Alectoris
| species = rufa
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| synonyms = ''Tetrao rufus'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1758}}
}}
[[File:Perdrix rouge MHNT.jpg|thumb|'' Alectoris rufa rufa ''- [[MHNT]]]]
[[File:Alectoris rufa MHNT GAL 93.jpg|thumb| ''Alectoris rufa'' - [[MHNT]]]]

The '''red-legged partridge''' ('''''Alectoris rufa''''') is a [[gamebird]] in the pheasant family [[Phasianidae]] of the order [[Galliformes]], gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as '''French partridge''', to distinguish it from the English or [[grey partridge]]. The genus name is from [[Ancient Greek]] ''alektoris'' a farmyard chicken, and ''rufa'' is [[Latin]] for red or rufous.

It is a rotund bird, with a light brown back, grey breast and buff belly. The face is white with a black [[Gorget (bird)|gorget]]. It has [[rufous]]-streaked flanks and red legs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. This is a seed-eating species, but the young in particular take insects as an essential [[protein]] supply. The call is a three-syllable ''ka-chu-chu''.

== Taxonomy ==
The red-legged partridge was [[Species description|formally described]] in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist [[Carl Linnaeus]] in the [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|tenth edition]] of his ''[[Systema Naturae]]'' under the [[binomial nomenclature|binomial name]] ''Tetrao rufus''. Linnaeus designated the [[type locality (biology)|type locality]] as southern Europe but this is now restricted to northern Italy.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | volume=1 | edition=10th | page=160 |  publisher=Laurentii Salvii | location=Holmiae (Stockholm) | language=Latin | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727067 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1934 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=2 | publisher=Harvard University Press | location=Cambridge, Massachusetts  | page=66 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14482879 }}</ref> The specific epithet is [[Latin]] meaning "red" or "rufous".<ref>{{ cite web | last=Jobling | first=James A. | title=rufus | work=The Key to Scientific Names | url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/key-to-scientific-names/search?q=rufus | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology | access-date=18 February 2025 }}</ref> The red-legged partridge is now one of seven partridge species placed in the [[genus]] ''[[Alectoris ]]'' that was introduced in 1829 by German naturalist [[Johann Jakob Kaup]].<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=August 2024 | title=Pheasants, partridges, francolins | work=IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/pheasants/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

Three [[subspecies]] are recognised:<ref name=ioc/>
* ''A. r. rufa'' ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758) – Britain, France, north Italy and [[Corsica]]
* ''A. r. hispanica'' (Seoane, 1894) – north, west [[Iberian Peninsula]]
* ''A. r. intercedens'' ([[Alfred Brehm|Brehm, AE]], 1857) – east, south [[Iberian Peninsula]]

==Description==
[[File:Alectoris rufa -Kirkmichael, Scotland-8.jpg|right|thumb|In Scotland]]
Adult red-legged partridges are sandy-brown above, pinkish-buff on the belly, and pale grey on the breast, with a prominent gorget of black streaking, bold rufous and black flank-bars, a cream throat, pink legs, and a red bill and eye ring.

The crown and upper nape of adult red-legged partridge are a warm pinkish-brown; the fore crown and lateral edges of the crown are pale blue-grey, and the bird has a narrow off-white [[supercilium]] running from above the [[Lore (anatomy)|lores]] to the sides of the lower nape. The lores have a solid bar of black feathering above a patch of pinkish-red skin. This black colouration continues behind the eye, where it broadens, and then extends down around the throat-patch to meet the upper edge of the gorget. There is a patch of pale buff-brown feathering on the ear-coverts, adjoining the black. The eye is surrounded by a bright red eye-ring.

The chin and upper throat are creamy-white, and are bordered behind and below by a solid black gorget. The black colour continues down onto the lower throat as a patch of broad triangular black streaks on a pale sandy-grey background. Similar, but narrower, black streaks are present on a pale blue-grey background on the upper neck-sides, while the lower neck-sides are warm pinkish-brown. The breast is pale blue-grey, and the belly pinkish-buff. The flanks are marked with bold bright rufous-brown bars, typically between eight and ten; each bar has a narrow black leading edge, the background colour is off-white in front of each bar, and pale grey behind. The upper parts are plain, unmarked dark sandy-grey. The uppertail-coverts are similar in colour, and contrast with the pinkish-rufous tail-feathers.

The bill is bright red, the iris is medium brown, and the legs are pinkish-red.

==Distribution and habitat==
This [[partridge]] breeds naturally in southwestern Europe ([[France]], [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]] and northwest [[Italy]]).<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> It has become naturalised in flat areas of [[England]] and [[Wales]], where it was introduced as a game species, and has been seen breeding as far north as [[Sutherland]]. It is replaced in southeastern Europe by the very similar [[rock partridge]] (''Alectoris graeca''). It is a [[bird migration|non-migratory]] terrestrial species, which forms flocks outside the breeding season.

This species breeds on dry lowlands, such as farmland and open stony areas, laying its eggs in a ground nest. They have been known to cohabit with wild rabbits.

==Cultivation and consumption==

[[File:Red-legged Partridge at butchers in Ludlow.JPG|thumb|Red-legged partridge hanging for sale outside a butcher's shop in [[Ludlow]], Shropshire, England]]

Red-legged partridge are bred for shooting, and sold and eaten as [[Game (food)|game]].

==Great Britain==
The natural range of the red-legged partridge is France, Spain and Portugal. However, it was introduced from France to Great Britain in the 18th century, and has since become an important gamebird there. As it is a [[Mediterranean climate|mediterranean]] species, it thrives in hot, dry areas with sandy soil. The ability to breed two clutches simultaneously has led to it being extensively reared in captivity, and released for shooting. The breeding of [[Chukar partridge|chukar]]s (''Alectoris chukar'') and red-legged/chukar hybrids is prohibited, due to its impact on wild populations of red-legs. The red-legged partridge is believed to be in decline across its range.<ref name="GWCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.gwct.org.uk/game/research/species/red-legged-partridge/|title=Red-legged Partridge|access-date=2015-12-25|publisher=Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust}}</ref>

==New Zealand==
Many red-legged partridges are kept and bred in captivity in New Zealand aviaries where the population is considered secure at the moment. These particular birds are all descendants from one of the last attempts at introducing the species to the wild by the (Auckland) Acclimatisation Society.

A consignment of 1500 eggs was sent from the United Kingdom in July 1980. However, the boxes were delayed by two days and had evidently over-heated en route. There was further delay in getting the eggs through customs and quarantine clearance. By the time they reached Massey University (which had been invested in to take on the project), hopes were not high and only 135 chicks were hatched. Two further consignments totaling 638 eggs were sent mid-1981. From these only 53 chicks hatched. The plan was to rear these birds and put them through six breeding cycles in two years using controlled lighting and thus establish a substantial breeding nucleus. The programme at Massey was soon terminated and all the birds dispersed to other breeders, primarily the game farm at [[Te Ahoha]] which had already produced some young, but some were also given to the Wildlife Service. At the end of the 1983 breeding season, the population had increased to 940 birds.<ref>R. M. McDowall, ''Gamekeepers For The Nation'', 1994</ref>

The current actual status of wild, self-sustaining red-legged partridges in New Zealand is questionable. Back-yard agriculturalists and gamebird breeders/preserves hold most of the population. Some zoos and farm-parks exhibit this species. It is not frequently eaten by the public.

Similar species is the [[chukar partridge]] which is not allowed to be kept in captivity and has been naturalized in the South Island as an upland game bird since the 1930s. The chukar partridge's population has been in decline since the late 1980s. Other introduced gamebirds are [[bobwhite quail]], [[brown quail]], [[California quail]], [[guinea fowl]], [[blue peafowl]], [[wild turkey]],  and [[pheasant]]. Major management efforts are made for the more valued of these species, such as bobwhites and pheasants.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Alectoris rufa}}
* [http://blascozumeta.com/wp-content/uploads/aragon-birds/non-passeriformes/141.redleggedpartridge-arufa.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF; 4.3 MB) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze]
* {{InternetBirdCollection|red-legged-partridge-alectoris-rufa|Red-legged Partridge}}
* {{VIREO|Red-legged+Partridge|Red-legged Partridge}}
* {{IUCN_Map|22678711/183481909|Alectoris rufa}}

{{English Game}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q754863}}

[[Category:Alectoris|red-legged partridge]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1758|red-legged partridge]]
[[Category:Game birds]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]