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Gray (Hungarian) Partridge
The Gray Partridge, also called the Hungarian Partridge, is an introduced game bird in British Columbia, brought from Europe for sport hunting. Populations are primarily found in southern BC grasslands, agricultural fields, and open habitats, where they are managed as a regulated hunting species.
Yellow Listed
Human Health Hazard
Conservation Status
Syilx
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Description
Adults are small, stocky game birds, measuring 28–33 cm in length with a wingspan of 45–50 cm and weighing 300–450 g. They have gray-brown bodies, rufous flanks, a small crest on the head, and a distinctive black “horse-shoe” marking on the belly. Females are slightly duller and smaller than males.
Habitat
Gray Partridges prefer open fields, farmland, grasslands, and lightly wooded areas, often near hedgerows, fencerows, or brushy cover. They roost on the ground and rely on dense vegetation for nesting and predator protection.
Food
They are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, grains, leaves, berries, and insects. Foraging occurs mostly on the ground, where they scratch and peck for food in leaf litter, stubble, or bare soil.
Social System, Activity & Movements
Gray Partridges are gregarious outside the breeding season, forming coveys of 10–20 birds, which provide safety from predators and facilitate foraging. During the breeding season, pairs defend small territories around their nests.
Reproduction & Parental Care
Breeding occurs in spring, with females laying 12–20 eggs per clutch in a shallow ground nest concealed in vegetation. Incubation lasts about 23–25 days, with the female solely responsible for incubation, while both parents guide and protect the precocial chicks once they hatch.
Natural Mortality & Predators
Predators include raptors, foxes, coyotes, skunks, and domestic cats. Eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable, while adults rely on camouflage and covey vigilance. Hunting also contributes to adult mortality but is regulated to maintain population balance.
Credit
ChatGPT