Partridge
| Perdicinae | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Grey partridge (Perdix perdix) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae Horsfield, 1821 |
| Subfamily: | Perdicinae Horsfield, 1821 |
| Genus | |
|
Alectoris | |
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.
These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Partridges are ground-nesting seed-eaters.
According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when Daedalus threw his nephew, Perdix, off the sacred hill of Athena in a fit of jealous rage. Supposedly mindful of his fall, the bird does not build its nest in the trees, nor take lofty flights and avoids high places.[1]
Partridges appear as part of the first gift listed in the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".[2] As such, "A partridge in a pear tree" is sung as the last line of each verse.
Species list in taxonomic order
- Genus Ptilopachus
- Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
- Nahan's partridge, Ptilopachus nahani
- Genus 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, 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
- 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 partridges
- 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
- Scaly-breasted partridge, Arborophila chloropus
- Chestnut-necklaced partridge, Arborophila charltonii
- Sumatran partridge, Arborophila sumatrana
- Vietnam partridge, Arborophila merlini
- 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
References
- ↑ Holmes, Richard (2013). Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air. HarperCollins. p. 1760. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ↑ The Associated Press (November 26, 2012). "'12 days of Christmas' cost: How much is a partridge in a pear tree?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
External links
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Look up partridge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Videos, photos and sounds - Internet Bird Collection
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