Partridge - description, habitat, interesting facts

It is difficult to find a person who has never heard anything about partridges in his life. By them we mean small feathered friends who often become victims of hunters. Partridge meat is delicious, so the birds are so delighted to be served. Today we will consider everything that affects the presented species of individuals. What they eat, where they are common, how the mating season goes, etc.

Description

1. The birds are neatly folded, small, grow up to a maximum of 30 cm. By weight range vary from 450-500 gr. The final external data depends on the gender, distribution area and age of the bird.
2. The males are famous for their gray plumage. But their abdominal region is whitish or close to this. In this area there is a speck in the shape of a horseshoe in a violet-red tone.
3. It is worth highlighting the fact that individuals of female affiliation are smaller in their overall characteristics. Also, females are not as bright as males, because they need to hatch offspring during the nesting period and disguise themselves as environmentally as possible.
4. In females who have not yet reached puberty, there is no speck on the belly. Therefore, it is simple enough to determine among young animals who belongs to which sex. This mark will appear after puberty.
5. When the summer period begins, the females acquire a reddish hue of plumage. In individuals of two genders, the head is brownish in tone, and in the occipital part there are feathers of a saturated color. Light dots are located throughout the body, which make the pattern more voluminous.
6. If birds live in the northern regions, then over the year they can change the color of their plumage several times. For example, tailless partridges are decorated with white feathers in winter, and closer to the summer season, this color is replaced by brown or earthy. Also a distinctive characteristic is the fact that males have red eyebrows. Females do not have this feature.

Habitat

1. These birds are mostly distributed in the British Isles, in the United States of America and Eurasia. However, the bulk of the population is dispersed throughout the CIS countries. Birds settle in the forest-steppe, tundra, forest-tundra, highlands.
2. But most often these birds are found precisely in the tundra. This area is ideal for partridges, so individuals in this area are most often found. Nest on moist soil, prefer open areas and edges. They love the large vegetation of the shrub type.
3. In the forest and highlands it is much harder to see these birds. They live only in specific areas where there is moderate vegetation. Also found in peat bogs.
4. In the flattering zone, individuals live where birch, alder, and aspen grow. Birds love pine forest. It is interesting that some varieties of partridges of snow-white tone are listed in the Red Book.

View Features

1. These birds have clawed legs, thanks to which individuals can survive even in harsh conditions. They dig holes in the ground precisely at the expense of claws. And when the birds fly, the clawed legs help them fly in the wind and keep their balance. A distinctive feature is that partridges can change the shade of feathers.
2. For example, in the summer they are red with a gray tint. This color helps the birds look unnoticed among the trees. However, this characteristic is not common to everyone, because some individuals remain white.Eyebrows become scarlet, and the abdominal region, feathers on the wings and limbs are gray with a white tint.
3. When the hunting for snow-white partridges begins in the summer, then males and females can be distinguished by characteristics and gender. Females acquire their outfit faster than males. In autumn, feathers become reddish or yellow, orange bunches or dots may be observed.
4. Individuals of female gender replace their winter attire earlier than male representatives of the family. They become whitish, only in the tail region there are black feathers. In the area of ​​the paws, a dense and short plumage flaunts. Thanks to these features, birds merge with the environment, hide from enemies and can survive in the winter.
5. The area of ​​the head and neck in males is pigmented in spring by a brownish-red tone. But other areas of the body do not change, remaining white. From all of the above, it is worth concluding that females change their plumage color three times in 12 months, and males - 4 times.

Lifestyle and character

1. The considered individuals prefer to lead a daily lifestyle. At night, such birds often hide in dense thickets. When winter comes, these individuals sleep, burrowing into the snowdrifts. It is also worth noting that partridges are sedentary birds.
2. Such individuals make flights only over short distances. In most cases, the considered individuals prefer to run. It is worth noting that at the sight of danger, the bird leaves this place very quickly. Partridges can be called very careful birds.
3. An interesting fact is that when such birds go in search of food, they move extremely quietly. An individual constantly looks around. If the bird in question notices danger, it freezes. As soon as the pest creeps up pretty close, the partridge soars. At the same time, loud flapping of wings is heard.
4. Often, the danger for partridges comes at a time when the seasonal population of lemmings begins to decline. The bottom line is that the latter are the main food for predators. As a result, white owls and arctic foxes are actively hunting for the individuals under consideration.
5. As soon as spring comes, partridges begin to make clear and sharp sounds. In addition, males flap their wings intensively. This behavior means that the mating season has begun. It is worth noting that at such a time the males show increased aggression, so skirmishes often arise between them.
6. Fights begin only if the uninvited guest has entered the territory of the owner. In addition, females also change their usual behavior. At this time, they begin to actively search for a male. As a result, a monogamous pair is formed. Such birds try to keep a fixed nesting place.
7. In normal times, in addition to the breeding season, birds display very quiet and calm behavior. Thus, they warn themselves against predators. Closer to winter, birds accumulate a fairly dense fat layer. This is what helps them survive in severe frosts.

Nutrition

1. Often, partridge diets are based on plant-based foods. It is worth noting that birds feed on all kinds of insects only the first time after birth. Do not forget that the considered individuals extremely rarely fly. Therefore, they pick up the bulk of the food from the ground.
2. In the warm season, individuals feed on all kinds of berries, seeds, flowers and plants. Only in rare cases can such birds allow themselves to enjoy animal food. In the winter season, birds often feed on plant shoots and buds.
3. It is worth noting that such food is low-calorie.Because of this feature, birds try to swallow such food in large quantities. Individuals load food in reserve into their large goiter. Also, birds dig small holes in search of the remnants of berries. In addition, birds are hiding from predators in such depressions.

Interesting Facts

1. In winter, in search of food, partridges try to rake the thickness of snow to get to the ground. As a result, they can feast on the roots and seeds of plants.
2. The main feature of individuals is that at the sight of danger the birds simply become numb. They remain motionless until the enemy passes their side.

Partridges are unique in nature, they have a body temperature of 45 degrees! At the same time, such indicators do not change even from the changing season or during severe frosts. It is worth noting that the meat of these individuals is very popular among people.

Video: partridge (Lagopus lagopus)