View source for Partridge

{{Short description|Common name for a type of bird}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Heathcock}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| auto              = yes
| name              = Partridge
| image             = CRESTED WOOD-PARTRIDGE (7181284331).jpg
| image_caption     = [[Crested wood partridge]] <br /> (''Rollulus rouloul'')
| parent            = Phasianidae
| includes        = * [[Perdicinae]] (former)
* [[Rollulinae]], [[Phasianinae]], and [[Pavoninae]] (current)
''[[Alectoris]]''<br/>
''[[Ammoperdix]]''<br/>
''[[Arborophila]]''<br/>
''[[Bambusicola]]''<br/>
''[[Haematortyx]]''<br/>
''[[Lerwa]]''<br/>
''[[Margaroperdix]]''<br/>
''[[Melanoperdix]]''<br/>
''[[Perdix]]''<br/>
''[[Rhizothera]]''<br/>
''[[Rollulus]]''<br/>
''[[Tetraophasis]]''<br/>
''[[Xenoperdix]]''
}}

A '''partridge''' is a medium-sized [[Galliformes|galliform]] bird in any of several genera, with a wide [[Indigenous (ecology)|native distribution]] throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Several species have been introduced to the Americas. They are sometimes grouped in the [[Perdicinae]] subfamily of the [[Phasianidae]] (pheasants, quail, etc.). However, molecular research suggests that partridges are not a distinct [[taxon]] within the family Phasianidae, but that some species are closer to the [[pheasant]]s, while others are closer to the [[junglefowl]].<ref name="SCIDIR">{{cite journal|title=Molecular phylogenetics and evolution: A molecular phylogeny of the pheasants and partridges|doi=10.1006/mpev.1998.0562|pmid=10082609|volume=11|issue=1|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|pages=38–54|year=1999|last1=Kimball|first1=R. T.|last2=Braun|first2=E. L.|last3=Zwartjes|first3=P. W.|last4=Crowe|first4=T. M.|last5=Ligon|first5=J. D.}}</ref>

[[File:Birds of Hindustan luchas, called būqalamūn, and partridges.jpg|thumb|228px|Birds of Persia luchas, called būqalamūn (بوقلمون turkey in Persian), and partridges]]
[[File:ZGvucdove.jpg|thumb|228px|upright|The so-called "[[Vučedol culture#The Vučedol dove|Vučedol dove]]", one of the most well-known emblems of the prehistorical [[Vučedol culture]], is now interpreted as representing a male partridge as a symbol of fertility]]

==Description==
Partridges are medium-sized [[Game (hunting)|game]] birds, generally intermediate in size between the larger pheasants, smaller quail; they're ground-dwelling birds that feature variable plumage colouration across species, with most tending to grey and brown.

==Range and habitat==
Partridges are native to [[Europe]], [[Asia]], [[Africa]], and the [[Middle East]]. Some species are found nesting on steppes or agricultural land, while other species prefer more forested areas. They nest on the ground and have a diet consisting of seeds and insects.

==Hunting==
Species such as the [[grey partridge]] and the [[red-legged partridge]] are popular as [[Game (hunting)|game birds]], and are often reared in captivity and released for the purpose of hunting. For the same reason, they have been introduced into large areas of North America.

[[File:Red-legged Partridge.jpg|thumb|228px|[[Red-legged partridge]].]]
[[File:Chestnut-bellied Partridge RWD2.jpg|thumb|228px|[[Chestnut-bellied partridge]].]]
[[File:Scaly-breasted Partridge.jpg|thumb|228px|[[Scaly-breasted partridge]].]]
[[File:Grey Partridge Perdix perdix, Netherlands 1.jpg|thumb|228px|[[Grey partridge]].]]

==Cultural references==
According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when [[Daedalus]] threw his apprentice, [[Talos (inventor)|Talos]], off the sacred hill of [[Athena]] in a fit of jealous [[Rage (emotion)|rage]]. Supposedly mindful of his fall, the bird does not build its nest in the trees, nor take lofty flights and avoids high places.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nvuxnsmS8MC&pg=PA1760 | title=Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air | publisher=HarperCollins | date=2013 | access-date=16 April 2013 | author=Holmes, Richard | pages=1760| isbn=9780007467259 }}</ref>

As described by medieval scholar [[Madeleine Pelner Cosman]], medical practitioners in the [[Middle Ages]] recommended partridge as a food of love: They suggested that "Partridge was superior in arousing dulled passions and increasing the powers of engendering. Gentle to the human stomach, partridge stimulated bodily fluids, raised the spirits, and firmed the muscles."<ref name="Cosman">{{cite journal |last1=Cosman |first1=Madeleine Pelner |title=A Feast for Aesculapius: Historical Diets for Asthma and Sexual Pleasure |journal=Annual Review of Nutrition |date=1 July 1983 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=1–34 |doi=10.1146/annurev.nu.03.070183.000245 |pmid=6357233 |url=https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nu.03.070183.000245 |access-date=24 December 2021 |issn=0199-9885}}</ref>

Probably the most famous reference to the partridge is in the Christmas carol, "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)|The Twelve Days of Christmas]]".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1126/12-days-of-Christmas-cost-How-much-is-a-partridge-in-a-pear-tree | title='12 days of Christmas' cost: How much is a partridge in a pear tree? | newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor | date=November 26, 2012 | access-date=8 May 2014 | author=The Associated Press}}</ref>  The first gift listed is "a partridge in a [[pear]] tree", and these words end each verse. Since partridges are unlikely to be seen in pear trees (they are ground-nesting birds)<ref>{{cite web |title=Do partridges occur in pear trees? |url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/what-can-you-tell-us-about-the-habitat-associations-of-partridges-and-in-particular-whether-pear-trees-are-ever-involved/ |website=All About Birds |access-date=24 December 2021 |date=20 December 2009}}</ref> it has been suggested that the text "a pear tree" is a corruption of the French "''une perdrix''" (a partridge).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A1k7AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT55 |last=Lawson-Jones |first=Mark |date=2011 |title=Why Was the Partridge in the Pear Tree? |publisher=The History Press |page=55|isbn=9780752477503 }}</ref>

The partridge has also been used as a symbol that represents [[Kurds|Kurdish]] nationalism. It is called ''Kew''. Sherko Kurmanj discusses the paradox of symbols in Iraq as an attempt to make a distinction between the Kurds and the Arabs. He says that while Iraqis generally regards the palm tree, falcon, and sword as their national symbols, the Kurds consider the oak, partridge, and dagger as theirs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kurmanj |first1=Sherko<!--This author doesn't correspond with the listed chapter author on WorldCat?--> |chapter=The Roots of Modern Kurdish Nationalism |title=Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fragmented Homeland |editor1-last=Bengio |editor1-first=Ofra |date=2014 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-0-292-75813-1 |pages=96}}</ref>

==Species list in taxonomic order==
*Genus ''[[Snow partridge|Lerwa]]''
** [[Snow partridge]], ''Lerwa lerwa''
*Genus ''[[Tetraophasis]]'' 
** [[Verreaux's monal-partridge]], ''Tetraophasis obscurus''
** [[Szechenyi's monal-partridge]], ''Tetraophasis szechenyii''
*Genus ''[[Alectoris]]''
** [[Arabian partridge]], ''Alectoris melanocephala''
** [[Przevalski's partridge]], ''Alectoris magna''
** [[Rock partridge]], ''Alectoris graeca''
** [[Chukar partridge|Chukar]], ''Alectoris chukar''
** [[Philby's partridge]], ''Alectoris philbyi''
** [[Barbary partridge]], ''Alectoris barbara''
** [[Red-legged partridge]], ''Alectoris rufa''
*Genus ''[[Ammoperdix]]''
**[[See-see partridge]], ''Ammoperdix griseogularis''
** [[Sand partridge]], ''Ammoperdix heyi''
*Genus ''[[Perdix]]''
** [[Grey partridge]], ''Perdix perdix''
** [[Daurian partridge]], ''Perdix dauurica''
** [[Tibetan partridge]], ''Perdix hodgsoniae''
*Genus ''[[Rhizothera]]''
** [[Long-billed partridge]], ''Rhizothera longirostris''
** [[Dulit partridge]], ''Rhizothera dulitensis''
*Genus ''[[Margaroperdix]]''
** [[Madagascar partridge]], ''Margaroperdix madagascarensis''
*Genus ''[[Melanoperdix]]''
** [[Black wood-partridge]], ''Melanoperdix nigra''
*Genus ''[[Xenoperdix]]''
** [[Rubeho forest partridge]], ''Xenoperdix obscuratus''
** [[Udzungwa forest partridge]], ''Xenoperdix udzungwensis''
*Genus ''[[Arborophila]]'', the [[hill partridge]]s
** [[Hill partridge]], ''Arborophila torqueola''
** [[Sichuan partridge]], ''Arborophila rufipectus''
** [[Chestnut-breasted partridge]], ''Arborophila mandellii''
** [[White-necklaced partridge]], ''Arborophila gingica''
** [[Rufous-throated partridge]], ''Arborophila rufogularis''
** [[White-cheeked partridge]], ''Arborophila atrogularis''
** [[Taiwan partridge]], ''Arborophila crudigularis''
** [[Hainan partridge]], ''Arborophila ardens''
** [[Chestnut-bellied partridge]], ''Arborophila javanica''
** [[Grey-breasted partridge]], ''Arborophila orientalis''
** [[Bar-backed partridge]], ''Arborophila brunneopectus''
** [[Orange-necked partridge]], ''Arborophila davidi''
** [[Chestnut-headed partridge]], ''Arborophila cambodiana''
** [[Red-breasted partridge]], ''Arborophila hyperythra''
** [[Red-billed partridge]], ''Arborophila rubrirostris''
** [[Sumatran partridge]], ''Arborophila sumatrana''
*Genus ''[[Tropicoperdix]]''
** [[Scaly-breasted partridge]], ''Tropicoperdix chloropus''
** [[Chestnut-necklaced partridge]], ''Tropicoperdix charltonii''
*Genus ''[[Caloperdix]]''
** [[Ferruginous partridge]], ''Caloperdix oculea''
*Genus ''[[Haematortyx]]''
** [[Crimson-headed partridge]], ''Haematortyx sanguiniceps''
*Genus ''[[Rollulus]]''
** [[Crested partridge]], ''Rollulus roulroul''
*Genus ''[[Bambusicola]]''
** [[Mountain bamboo partridge]], ''Bambusicola fytchii''
** [[Chinese bamboo partridge]], ''Bambusicola thoracica''

==See also==
*[[Dick Potts]], English ecologist and specialist in the [[grey partridge]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|partridge}}
{{Commons}}
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/pheasants-partridges-phasianidae Videos, photos and sounds] - Internet Bird Collection

{{Phasianidae}}
{{Birds in culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Partridges|*]]
[[Category:Bird common names]]