Scientific name:
Perdix

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia

with a weight until 400 g and a length of 30 cm is moderate-sized, brown ground-birds the partridges. In the shape they let themselves only distinguish heavily from a stone-chicken especially since they occur in some areas (southwest and southeast-Europe) together. Also the flight-picture is very similar; in flying up, the short, bay tail is to be clearly recognized. From the proximity viewed, however, one will determine that the males lack the short spore-humps at the runs.

Types, spread The three partridge-types live in Eurasia's restrained zones. The spread of the partridge (Perdix perdix) is at least very unclear in Europe since it was naturalized for the hunt from different origin-areas. It is native also in North America for the same reasons meanwhile. In Eastern Asia, the type becomes through the beard-partridge (P). barbata, represents, the third type, the Tibet-partridge (P), lives in the Tibetan brushland-ships. hodgsoniae. In general stand-birds, the partridges can join together also to bigger swarms in the winter in order to undertake food-hikes.

Way of life Beside the hunt-pheasant (pheasants) and the mallard, the partridge became the verbreitetste flight-game for the European hunt earlier. It is a typical ground-bird, who lives from grass-seeds, grains, fruits and tender plants like from insects, spiders and worms as well. Earlier, forest-edges, open peat-bogs or savannas, probably intended also alpine mats for the timberline, the habitat, until high. Today, the partridge is on the red list of the strongly endangered types with us. With danger, the partridge flies up fast, under gel-loins reputations, that like "repreprep. . ." sounds. Hereupon, the name is unambiguous to lead back.

Reproduction Usually the female builds a nest-hollow in the protection of higher plants from beginning April and lays out it with grass-stalks and leaves. With a Legeabstand of 1-2 days, it reaches a magnificent nest-number, 10-12 eggs are no rarity; larger egg-numbers are to be probably led back on two females. Since the female broods from only the last egg on, the eggs are covered carefully with Nistmaterial until the brood-beginning. The boys nevertheless slip within short time (brood-duration 24-25 days), can already at the 1. Meet left the nest and grows up fast. Now, care is taken of them by both parents and remain in the family-association until the next spring. Then, the individual pairs isolate themselves and stay together on lifetime. An actual performs courtship display doesn't take place, however, the male lures its female with typical Balzrufen.