Partridge drawing in pencil. Gray partridge: description of the bird and its features. Habits and behavioral features

Partridge is a bird that many have heard of. External resemblance to an ordinary chicken and the same root composition in the name, however, are deceptive signs. This bird belongs to the pheasant family, and uses an inconspicuous color, like that of chickens, only for camouflage purposes. There are other features of this amazing feathered one, which we will discuss in this article.

Partridge Description

Partridges belong to the pheasant family, subfamilies of partridge and grouse, including more than 22 genera, each of which has from one to 46 subspecies. However, despite the species diversity of all birds, they are united by a sedentary lifestyle, inconspicuous color, small size and incredible endurance in extreme conditions.

Appearance

The appearance of almost all partridges is the same: it is a small bird. Their height reaches 35 cm, but rarely higher. The weight is half a kilogram. With the exception of white partridges weighing up to 1800 grams. The upper plumage is usually gray-brown. There may be a pattern of black repeating spots in the area of ​​the wings. Some species have spurs on their legs, others do not. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed, but females are paler in color.

Character and lifestyle

Partridges lead a terrestrial lifestyle, they feed mainly on plant food. They prefer to nest on the ground, like many pheasants. They diligently hide their houses in thickets of abundant foliage and shrubs.

The great popularity of partridge meat among predators has made this bird very cautious. Horses move, looking around, listening and looking closely: is there any danger around. As with most pheasants, flying is not the most forte partridges. But running opposite is very good.

It is interesting! These birds are monogamous in mate choice. Every time during the mating season, they look for their mate and nest. The exception is the Madagascar subspecies

For most of their lives, partridges try not to attract attention. They move very quietly, calmly. By winter, they accumulate a rather impressive fat reserve, which allows them to leave their shelters only in urgent cases. They lead a daily life. The search for food takes a short period of time, no more than three hours a day.

How long do partridges live

In captivity, due to constant extermination by predators and hunters, partridges rarely live to be four years old.

Partridge species

Most partridges are assigned to the pheasant family, subfamily of partridges (Perdicinae), including 22 genera. But the genus of white partridges belongs to the subfamily of the black grouse (Tetraoninae), the genus Lagopus, which includes the species: white partridge, white-tailed and tundra.

Let us first consider the partridge family Perdicinae and note its most prominent representatives:

1. Kekliks (Alectoris). Otherwise they are called stone partridges. They are the closest relatives of the desert partridge. Represented by 7 varieties: Asian, European, Przewalski's Keklik, Red Partridge, Black-headed Keklik, Arabian Keklik, Barbary Stone Partridge. For stone partridges of nature, a significantly larger body mass compared to other species. Weight reaches 800 grams. It lives from the Caucasus to Altai. Distributed in Central Asia. They prefer to settle in mountain gorges, close to water channels. The color is sustained in gray, ashy tones. There is a distinctive annular pattern in the eye area. On the sides of these partridges are dark transverse stripes. The belly is usually reddish in color. It feeds on fruits, grains and buds, but in addition to everything it is able to get roots from the ground. It also feeds on food of animal origin: caterpillars, beetles, larvae.
2. desert partridges (Ammoperdix) The species lives from the Armenian Highlands to India and from the Persian Gulf to Central Asia. For habitat prefers hills with little vegetation and an abundance of shrubs. The color is sandy-gray, with a slightly pinkish tint. On the sides are wide bright, black-brown stripes. Males have a black stripe on their heads, like a bandage. They prefer to build nests in hard-to-reach places - on slopes, cliffs, under stones. The weight of adult birds is 200-300 grams. These are monogamous individuals, but the male takes a mediocre role in raising offspring, although he is near the clutch for the entire period of incubation. Females usually lay 8 to 12 eggs.
3. New Guinea mountain quail(Anurophasis)
4. Bush partridges (Arborophila) include 18 species. Distributed in the South Asian tropics and subtropics. In the mountains of southern China, also found in Tibet. They can live at altitudes up to 2700 meters above sea level. They live in family groups of up to ten individuals or in pairs. Monogamous. After mating, 4-5 eggs are laid. Masonry makes in the ground, under bushes or in the roots of a tree. Unlike other species, they do not build nests. The color is dominated by brown colors, there are small black spots. Males have more of these spots, this feature is the main sexual difference.
5. Bamboo Partridges (Bambusicola) live in the northeast of India, as well as in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. Distributed in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.
6. Ocellated partridges (Caloperdix)
7. quail (Coturnix) 8 extant and two extinct species.
8. Turachi (Francolinus) 46 species. The most numerous genus.
9. Partridges(Galloperdix). The genus includes 3 species: spurred Sri Lankan, painted and red partridge. The most famous is the Sri Lankan spurred partridge, which leads an extremely secretive lifestyle. From external features: the upper part of the plumage of females is brown. Males are more contrasting in color: there are patches of red skin without plumage. On the head is a scaly black and white pattern. White spots on wings. There are two long spurs on the legs.
10. red-headed partridges (Haematortyx). An interesting representative, lives in the subtropical and tropical forests of Indonesia and Malaysia.
11. snow partridge (Lerva) is the only member of the genus. They live from the Himalayas to Tibet. They live on slopes up to 5500 meters above sea level. A distinctive feature is the spurs on the legs of males. There are black and white stripes on the head and neck. The beak and legs are bright coral.
12. Madagascar partridges (Margaroperdix). It is an endemic species, that is, it lives only in Madagascar. Prefers thickets of shrubs and tall grass, as well as abandoned fields that are overgrown with grass. Pretty big look. Height reaches 30 cm. Polygamous. Sexual dimorphism is markedly pronounced. Males are bright, eye-catching in color. After mating, females lay a large number of eggs - up to twenty. This is not typical for other partridges.
13. black partridges (Melanoperdix) is found in areas of Malaysia, Borneo, Southeast Asia. It is included in the Red Book as an endangered species.
14. Himalayan partridges(Ophrysia) is the only representative, on the verge of extinction.
15. jungle quail (perdicula).
16. rock partridges(Ptilopachus). The only representative of the genus. Lives only in Africa. It is distinguished by red paws without spurs and a tail that looks like a chicken.
17. Long-billed partridges (Rhizothera)
18. Partridges ( Perdix) 3 species: gray partridge, Tibetan, bearded.
19. crowned partridges (Rollulus rouloul) is the only species in the genus. It lives mainly in tropical forests. An adult grows up to 25 centimeters in height. It differs from other representatives of partridges in a bright and unusual color. The body of the bird is almost black, with a slight blue tint in males and green in females.
    On the head is a bright red fluffy tuft, somewhat similar to a brush. The diet of this bird consists not only of fruits and seeds. This species is not averse to dine on insects, molluscs. The way of their nesting is interesting and unusual: they do not hatch chicks, but bring them as adults to a constructed “house” with an entrance and a roof, closing the entrance behind them with branches
20. Ulary (Tetraogallus) 5 representatives.
21. Kundyki (Tetraophasis)

1. ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) lives in the north of Eurasia and America. It also lives in Greenland and the British Isles. Introduced in Kamchatka and Sakhalin. The color is white in winter with a characteristic black tail, and in summer it becomes brown-buff. It has wide, densely feathered paws, which allow you to easily overcome the snow cover. As Alfred Brehm points out in his book Animal Life, ptarmigans are able to break through the snow to get food. In winter, they feed on buds, dried and frozen berries. Summer diet consists of leaves, flowers, shoots, insects.
2. Tundra partridge (Lagopus mutus) lives in northern latitudes. Outwardly, it is very similar to the white partridge. It differs from it by a black stripe passing through the eye. This landmark allows you to distinguish between two types of partridges. The color is predominantly brown. In summer the color is more grey. Leads a sedentary and nomadic lifestyle. Prefers to stay in small flocks. Nests are built on rocky areas, on hillsides, abundantly overgrown with shrubs. The nest is a hole lined with leaves and branches. In the nests you can see from 6 to 12 eggs.
3. white-tailed partridge (Lagopus leucurus) is the smallest species of ptarmigan. It lives from Central Alaska to the states in the west of North America. It differs from the white partridge in its absolutely white, not black, tail. Weight ranges from 800 to 1300 grams. Females are smaller than males. Monogamous. They live either in small flocks or in pairs.

The white-tailed partridge has been the state bird of Alaska since 1995.

The most famous and popular bird among hunters is partridge. Many have known her since childhood. With its features, it resembles a home, but belongs to the family.

All birds of this species are mostly sedentary. Moreover, in order to survive they need to go through many tests in extreme conditions. There are several types of partridges, which differ to some extent from each other in their external data and behavior.

Partridge Features and Habitat

One of the representatives of this species is white partridge. It is well known to the inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere. This one has a markedly developed dimorphism.

This is such a state of a living being, in which it changes its appearance, depending on the environment and weather conditions. The white partridge always changes its plumage so that it becomes generally invisible to the naked human eye.

Partridge male and female

She is small in size. The body length of the average white partridge is about 38 cm. Its weight reaches 700 grams. In winter, the color of this bird is almost completely white, which makes it possible for it to remain completely unnoticed.

Only occasionally can black spots be seen on its tail feathers. partridge in autumn noticeably changes. Her feathers take on a white-brick and even white-brown color with scarlet eyebrows.

In addition, there are cases that these have a wavy color in plumage or just yellow spots on it. But the main color remains white. Partridge photo is a confirmation of this.

The female white partridge differs significantly from her male. Usually its size is smaller, and it changes its color a little earlier. Partridge female in winter has a lighter color than the male, so it will not be difficult for hunters to distinguish who exactly is in front of them.

In winter, the white partridge is especially beautiful. Its plumage increases, and longer feathers appear on the tail and wings. This not only decorates the bird, but also saves it from severe frosts. For hunters and large wild animals who prefer to hunt partridge, it is not very easy to find it in the snow. This gives a huge chance to survive.

Thick feathers grow on the limbs of this bird, which saves it from severe frosts. Claws grow on its four toes in winter, which help to stand steadily in the snow, as well as dig a shelter in it.

Pictured is a white partridge

gray partridge usually slightly smaller than white. Its average length is 25-35 cm, and its weight is from 300 to 500 grams. The appearance of this bird is quite modest due to its gray color.

But not all birds are gray, its belly is white. A brown horseshoe is striking, which is clearly visible on the abdomen of this one. Such a horseshoe is clearly visible in both males and females.

The female gray partridge is significantly smaller than its male. Also distinguishing feature the horseshoe on her abdomen is missing at an early age. It appears already when the partridge enters childbearing age.

You can distinguish a female from a male gray partridge by the presence of red feathers in the tail area. Representatives of the stronger sex partridges do not have such feathers. The head of both sexes has a rich brown color. The whole body of these birds is, as it were, covered with dark spots.

Pictured is a gray partridge

The wings of all species of partridges are not long, the tail is also short. The paws are covered with fur only in those representatives of this species of birds that live in the northern parts. Southerners do not need such protection.

Partridges are most attracted to open space. They love the forest-steppe, tundra, desert and semi-desert, medium mountains and alpine meadows. In northern latitudes partridge bird not afraid of nearby settlements.

Basically, all partridges lead a sedentary lifestyle. stone partridge one of those. Only white and tundra partridges move south a little in winter, and gray partridges fly from Siberia to Kazakhstan.

Asia, North America, Europe, Greenland, Novye Zemlya, Mongolia, Tibet, the Caucasus are the most favorite places for all kinds of partridges. They can also be found in the US and Canada.

Pictured is a stone partridge

The nature and lifestyle of the partridge

Partridges are very cautious. While searching for food for themselves, they step very carefully, constantly looking around so as not to fall into the clutches of some predator and avoid any danger.

During the mating season and nesting, partridges try to find their mate. In this regard, they are monogamous. In autumn, these pairs unite in small flocks. It cannot be said that their voices are sonorous, it most likely looks like a scream. This cry can be heard even for 1-1.5 km. In search of food, birds climb bumps and stones, while stretching their necks.

And, as soon as they sense danger, they immediately try to hide in the snow or grass, relying on the fact that they will go unnoticed due to their camouflage color. Partridges do not like to fly.

If they have to do this, then their flight is very fast with frequent wing flapping. Basically they prefer to run. They do it quite skillfully and briskly.

Most partridge runs, but sometimes she has to fly

These birds relatively easily and quickly adapt to harsh climatic conditions. The bird becomes noisy during the mating season, when the male tries to attract attention.

The rest of the time partridges behave quietly and calmly so as not to be noticed by predators. Since autumn, these birds accumulate large fat and energy reserves. Thanks to this, in winter, they can sit in snow shelters for a long time, escape from snowstorms and not experience terrible hunger. This can take days.

Partridge diurnal. She stays awake and forages for food during the daytime. Sometimes it can take 3-3.5 hours a day. And their night sleep lasts about 16-18 hours.

Pictured is a tundra partridge

Partridge nutrition

The diet of partridges includes mainly plant foods. They prefer seeds of various weeds, grains of cereal plants, like berries, buds of trees and bushes, as well as leaves and roots.

It happens that these birds can also eat insects. Partridges receive such food from nature in the summer. In winter, they have a little more difficulty with the extraction of food. They are saved by winter crops, frozen berries and the remains of buds with seeds. It happens, but extremely rarely, that these die of hunger in winter.

Reproduction and life expectancy of partridge

Partridges are very prolific. They can lay 25 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 25 days. In this process, the male takes the most active part. Partridges are very caring parents. Quite mature and independent chicks are born.

Due to the fact that partridge hunting conducted not only by hunters, but also by predatory animals, their life expectancy is not too high. They live an average of 4 years.

Many people experiment and try to get partridge domestic. This is good for them. For partridge breeding does not require large expenditures, both financial and physical.

In the photo, the nest and chicks of the partridge

Enough buy partridge and create for her all the conditions under which she will give a good offspring. About, how to catch a partridge few people know without a gun, although such methods are possible. She can be lured and caught with nets, plastic bottle, silks and loops. All of these methods are good if approached correctly and individually.

Partridge hunting in winter is different in that birds are easy to find by following tracks in the snow, while in summer they are more cautious and secretive. In winter, partridges need a source of food more than ever and settle somewhere near human habitation.

There are two types of partridges living in the CIS countries: regular and bearded. Partridges look like small gray birds with speckled plumage and stripes of brown. Bearded partridges are distinguished by a black spot on the chest. There are also snow-white partridges - these birds live in the northern regions and they are slightly larger than gray ones. White partridges can only be found in winter, because by summer they change their plumage to brownish-brown with many speckles.

Partridge meat is considered quite tasty, and hunting for them is exciting. These birds, which belong to the pheasant family, are often called "field hens" because their habits are very reminiscent of chickens. They prefer a terrestrial existence and can run fast. Partridges fly well but they rarely use this skill: in case of need to move to a new feeding place or to escape from danger. The characteristic sound that a partridge makes when taking off allows the hunter to track its movement.

Partridges roam in flocks, they can be found in the grass and bushes, where they climb in search of food. Birds can quickly maneuver among the stems if you agitate them a little, so partridge hunting is an interesting activity. In winter, partridges sleep in small holes dug in the snow. In case of serious danger, they unanimously break into the air and settle somewhere nearby.

About winter partridge hunting

In winter, partridges can be found in small growths of willow and aspen. Where the branches stick out from under the snow, partridges pluck the buds of these species and feed on them. When deep snow covers everything around, flocks of partridges move towards the villages and appear on the threshing floors. In search of food, they circle around the currents, where they thresh bread and pick up the crumbs on the paths along which the bread is transported to the barn to dry. It is also easy to find a place to sleep for partridges in winter: the birds settle near the village where they feed - in tall bushes, ravines, along the river.

Partridges make small "holes" in the snow and sleep in them, slightly buried in the snow. Even if partridges have white plumage, it will not be difficult to spot them. In addition, they are easy to figure out by patterned tracks on even snow, where the slightest roughness is visible. The hunter can ski to the places favored by partridges in deep snow.

On this hunt, it happens to shoot both migratory birds and sessile ones. Noticing the approach of a person, partridges usually try to hide in the snow. They get close enough, if a person does not go straight, but bypasses them and does not particularly demonstrate his attention. After the shot, the birds break into the air, fly away, but then immediately land and can again let the hunter in.

Winter partridge hunting from the approach

Skis are used in winter partridge hunting. Hunting begins in the morning, when partridges are busy feeding and you can get close to them. The flock engaged in breakfast go around the arc and, approaching, make the first shot. It is very difficult to shoot the fleeing partridges, so the second shot is most often made already in flight.

If the area is rich in food, and the weather is favorable in summer, partridges multiply rapidly by winter and the flocks increase to several dozen. Such groups are hunted from the approach. Birds become shy in places where they are often disturbed, so when hunting them you have to always be ready to shoot.

Partridge hunting with decoy

Using the decoy hunter mimics the sound, similar to the calling cry of a male partridge. A real cry is usually heard at a distance of 200-300 meters. Kuropach calls either at dawn, before sunrise, or at dusk. But the hunter does not have to comply with such limits: sometimes the partridge calls invitingly during the day - if the flock needs to be gathered together.

When hunting partridges, the decoy is most often used when the birds have disappeared from sight and need to be lured into the open. Birds always respond to the call and answer it. By answering calls, it is very easy to determine their location.

Sensing danger, partridges take off one at a time, so the hunter has time to focus on a specific target.

Hunting with a dog

Hunting with a dog is the most common type of partridge hunting. Spaniels, cops and other breeds of dogs are used for it. The dog must be calm and well trained, because the lion's share of success depends on it. A hunter with a dog walks around the places favored by partridges, and the dog scares away the sitting birds.

It is convenient to shoot at flying partridges: they take off straight, with a clapping and a lot of noise. After the shots, the birds scatter, but then land in one place. The dog easily finds them, and the hunt begins again.

Hunting for white partridge in winter

White partridges are brownish-brown in color, shade of the earth. In winter, they take on a snow-white plumage color. and become less visible in the snow. The weight of this bird species fluctuates between 400-900 grams.

If in summer the favorite places of ptarmigans are dusty hills and roads, and their location is often determined by characteristic pits, in winter they burrow a little in the snow with the same pleasure. Some partridges burrow into the snow one by one - then they can be found and shot one at a time.

Partridges that stay in a flock, having let the hunter in, scatter in different directions - in this case, you can only shoot one - and take off. Hunting them requires good planning. For shooting, a small fraction of 5 and 6 is recommended, 7 - for close range.

Partridges are considered cunning birds capable of some tricks. For example, when a flock goes to land behind a prominent shelter, it is not necessary that it landed there. It happens that ptarmigans descend, and then make a sharp turn and land in a different place.

Photo about partridge hunting in winter.

Distributed on the territory of Russia, is a hunting trophy. She has gained great popularity in breeding in personal plots, as her meat is very tasty, tender and nutritious.

Gray partridges have existed since prehistoric times, they lived in southern Europe and were a favorite treat of the Neanderthals.

Gray partridge - a small bird, has a body length of 30 cm, the body is dense and rounded, weight is about 450 grams. The main color is bluish-gray, with a characteristic bright pattern on the back. The female is not as colorful as the male. The head is small, the chest and back are well developed.

Partridge species

1. Gray. It lives in Europe and Western Asia, in fields, steppes and meadows. Nests on the ground. Clutch up to 25 eggs.
2. Bearded. Lives in the foothills of Central Asia. Nests in grass or under bushes.
3. Stone or keklik. The bird is small, has a weight of up to 700 grams. The male is slightly larger than the female.
4. Red. It is very similar to the stone partridge. It lives in the south of France, the Iberian Peninsula and in northwestern Italy.
5. White. This species lives in Northern Europe, America, Asia, as well as in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia and Kazakhstan. The color is yellowish in summer, and changes to white in winter. In winter, the bird looks very beautiful, its plumage increases, which gives not only beauty, but also salvation from frost, hunters and predators.
6. Tundra. The color of the bird is changeable, it has the color of the plumage of those rocks on which it lives.

In nature, there are a huge number of birds living next to humans. The gray partridge is one of them. This species belongs to the pheasant family of the order Galliformes. Many years ago, it attracted the attention of hunters - the meat of this bird is distinguished by excellent taste. Before there were guns, partridges were caught with nets.

This species of birds is very common in Europe, Asia Minor, Western Siberia, Karelia and the Middle Urals. And also the gray partridge can be found in some areas of Scandinavia and Finland, in Altai and near Tashkent.

Where does this bird species live? For living, individuals choose steppes, forests and plains, grain fields and clearings. In addition, they can be found in moorlands and mountainous areas.

Description of the appearance of the gray partridge with photographs

To clearly imagine what a gray partridge looks like, you need to study its photo and description. The appearance of the bird has a number of characteristic features, namely:

• dense body of a rounded shape;
• small ocher head;
• gray-blue color of feathers with a bright pattern on the back;
• throat and cheeks of bright color;
• a dark brown horseshoe-shaped spot on the abdomen;
• red tail feathers;
• brown stripes on the sides;
• beak and paws of a dark shade;
• length from beak to tail from 28 to 33 cm;
• body weight 300-450 g;
• wingspan - 45-49 cm.

Gray partridge in low flight.

In the photo: partridge chick in the nest.

A flock of partridges graze in dry grass.

In males of gray partridge, the color is brighter than in females, and younger individuals can be distinguished by the presence of longitudinal dark gray stripes on the body.

Lifestyle

Birds are sedentary and rarely leave their habitat. An individual can decide to take such a step only in case of danger or when there is a shortage of food in the former area of ​​​​residence. But such movements negatively affect the bird, it becomes shy and nervous.

In winter, partridges try to stay closer to the places where people live. They can choose yards and buildings, as well as densely growing shrubs.

Interesting! You can recognize partridges not only by appearance, but also according to the characteristic clucking of females and the loud voice of males, the sounds that he makes are vaguely reminiscent of a cock's "crow".

In autumn and winter, the gray partridge prefers to lead a flocking lifestyle, 30-40 birds each, and in the spring, during the mating season, individuals break into pairs. Each bird "family" chooses its own site for living and arranging a nest.

Behavioral Features

Partridges of this species tend to spend their whole lives where they were born. Fearing predatory animals and birds, they try to behave quietly and not attract attention. This is also due to the fact that this type of partridge does not like to fly.

In case of danger, the bird moves in flight for several hundred meters, and then hides in bushes or grass. Thanks to this feature, the gray partridge has developed, strong limbs and is able to run very fast. And when flying, the bird prefers not to rise high.

Most of the time, individuals spend looking for food, and they are most active in the morning and evening hours. Day and night, partridges hide in a shelter. In winter, they gather in flocks and hide at night under the snow, burrowing into it almost completely, and tightly clinging to each other to keep warm.

The males of this species are monogamous, and they choose a mate for themselves for life. The selection process takes place as follows: the male, having fluffed up his plumage, gives a voice and makes “dancing” movements. The female who pays attention to these efforts first will be his chosen one.

Nutrition

The diet of this bird is mainly plant food. It feeds on seeds, roots and inflorescences. However, partridges and bugs, caterpillars, spiders and larvae are not neglected. The sharp, tenacious paws of birds are able to obtain food by digging up the topsoil.

Attention! AT last years It's getting harder and harder for birds to find food. This is due to the fact that various chemicals are used to treat the fields, from which a large number of insects die. Partridges are forced to stay close to fields sown with winter crops, or to eat grains left after harvesting.

Partridges have the hardest time in winter. To prevent death from starvation, the birds unite in flocks and try to stay closer to human habitation.

Reproduction and lifespan

In captivity, gray partridges live 10 or more years, but in wildlife such a life expectancy among individuals of this breed is rare. A frequent lack of nutrition affects, and birds of prey are often destroyed by predatory animals and birds, or they become the prey of hunters.

Partridges reach the age of puberty by 1 year. Their mating season begins in March or April, depending on the climatic conditions of their habitat. Having chosen a partner, females are engaged in arranging nests in tall grass, near trees and shrubs. They insulate the inside of the "house" with feathers, leaves and soft grass.

Surprisingly, female partridges are capable of laying 12 to 25 eggs in one clutch. The survival rate of the offspring is very high.

Partridge eggs are monophonic, have a greenish or dark gray shade of the shell and are oval in shape, and their weight is 13-15 g. Incubation lasts about 25 days. Moreover, the female and male regularly replace each other.

The chicks are born in last days May or early June. They are literally from the first days able to move independently and run fast. Parents, trying to protect their offspring, almost immediately move the chicks 200-250 meters from the nest location.

It is worth noting that the families of gray partridges are exceptionally friendly. The male helps the female not only in the process of incubation of eggs, but also actively participates in feeding, raising and protecting offspring. When attacked by predators, the head of the family tries to take the whole blow on himself and it happens that he dies protecting the female and cubs. Chicks are characterized by rapid growth, and reach the size of an adult bird by the age of 3-4 months.

Partridge enemies

In the wild, gray partridges face many dangers. For this reason, they rarely live more than 4-5 years in the wild. This bird has to be wary of the following types of predators:

• gyrfalcons;
• kites;
• ferrets;
• arctic foxes;
• manulov and others.

Even living near human habitation, birds can be attacked by cats, and rats are a serious danger for small chicks. In addition, it cannot be excluded human factor- Partridges have been hunted since time immemorial.

Red Book

Gray partridges belong to category 5, this is a species that has a recovering population. This is due to the fecundity of partridges, the females of which are able to bring more than 20 eggs at a time. Otherwise, the species would be doomed to extinction.

Although these birds are found in many regions, the number of individuals in flocks is low, from 30 to 40 partridges. According to the accounting data for 2000-2003, there were 1.6-2.6 individuals per 100 hectares of land, and in the future there is a clear downward trend in this indicator.

The density of a species in a given region is influenced by such factors as weather and climatic conditions, the average annual rainfall, the development of agriculture and the fertilizers used. Often, the chemicals used to treat the fields are poisonous not only for insects and rodents, but also for birds.

As measures that can prevent the extinction of the species, the following actions are taken:

• universally prohibit the hunting of gray partridges,
• leave uncompressed bread near bushes and ravines,
• capture stray animals.

Features of breeding at home

The purpose of growing partridges is to obtain tender, dietary meat and eggs. , they are distinguished by unpretentiousness in food and the ability to adapt to a new place of residence.

If the climatic conditions of the area do not provide for severe winter frosts, partridges can be kept outdoors by equipping an aviary with a canopy on one side for them. This is necessary to protect the birds from rain or the scorching sun. However, in this case, there is a danger of an attack by eagle owls or kites, so the place of residence of the birds must be “camouflaged” with green spaces and shrubs.

If gray partridges are to be kept indoors, the house must meet the following requirements:

1. Be warm enough and not blown out, partridges are sensitive to drafts.
2. Be well ventilated as birds need fresh air.
3. The floor of the poultry house is covered with a dense layer of straw so that in the winter cold the paws of the individuals do not freeze.
4. A mesh should be stretched from above; birds can hit the wooden ceiling while taking off.
5. The aviary for partridges should be equipped with feeders and drinkers in an amount sufficient to feed the individuals.
6. To hatch chicks, partridges should be equipped with a capacious nest, 30x30 cm in size with high sides so that the chicks do not fall out.
7. For the safety of birds, it is important to protect the premises from the penetration of cats, dogs and rats.

It is important to consider that there should be enough space for the birds, and plan the size of the aviary or room at the rate of 1 sq.m. for 3 adults.

Partridge feeding

In order for partridges to grow well and gain weight, they need to be given mixed feeds consisting of the following components:

• grains and cereals;
• carrots;
• cabbage;
• cottage cheese;
• minced meat;
• berries (lingonberries, viburnum and mountain ash).

Do not forget about mineral supplements and vitamins. BUT before the start of laying, about 30 days in advance, you need to supplement the diet of the birds with the following products:

• greenery;
• fish and bone meal;
• fodder yeast;
• chalk or shells;
• a weak solution of manganese (1 time in 2 weeks).

It is forbidden to give the birds boiled potatoes, barley, beets, oats and wheat bread. Partridges are fed in the morning and in the afternoon. The volume of feed is needed so that the birds eat it without a trace, about 30-40 g per individual. And also in the drinkers should always be fresh water.

The video tells about the successful experience of breeding gray partridges on a farm: