RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE

Alectoris rufa

English: Red-legged Partridge.
German: Rothuhn.
French: Perdrix rouge.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Galliformes.
Family: Phasianidae.

Longitud/Length

32-34 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

47-50 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

The Red-legged Partridge is not confused with any other Iberian species.

Sexo/Sexing

The male has a wide collar of bright black color. The spurs on their legs are rounded and widened at the base, reaching four scales. On the other hand, the female has a reduced collar with a dull, matte black color. With regards to the spurs, we can observe different possibilities: individuals with only one spur on one leg or individuals who have them on both legs, whether pointed or rounded.

It is from three months of age when the spur begins to develop in males.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize three different ages:

Juvenile specimen: these specimens have a brown plumage on their upper parts, while on the lower parts the plumage is tinted with ochre tones, without stripes on the flanks. The throat is white and lacks a black collar. The outermost primaries have a clear tip tone. The beak is brownish and its legs are light red.

1st year specimen: these individuals have a plumage similar to that of the adult, conserving the two outermost primaries (P9-P10) juveniles, retained without moulting, that is, they will have a faded and worn appearance.

Adult Specimen: they will have all the feathers of the wing of the same generation and the two outermost primaries (P9-P10) without a clear tip.

Muda/Moult

Red-legged Partridge perform a complete post-nuptial moult that is normally completed in the month of November. On the other hand, the post-juvenile moult is partial, which includes all the feathers of the bird except for the two outermost primaries. This moult usually ends in early November.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 13-14 per wing.
Rectrices: 12-14.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center:
Tarsus:

Adult male specimen

1.- Left wing primaries. 2.- Primaries. 3.- Details of the tips of the primaries. 4.- Details of the primaries calamus. 5.- Details of the tips of the central primaries. 6.- Details of the outer vane of the outer primaries. 7.- Details of the outer vane of the outer primaries. 8.- Details of the outer vane of the inner primaries. 9.- Secondaies (S14-S8). 10.- Secondaries (S7-S1). 11.- Left wing secondaries and tertials. 12.- Details of the tips of the inner secondaries. 13.- Details of the tips of the outer secondaries. 14.- Details of the outer vane of the secondaries. 15.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials of the left wing. 16.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials of the left wing. 17.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater and median coverts. 18.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary and secondary coverts (G, M, and L). Alulas. 19.- Details of the tertials and their coverts. 20.- Details of the primary coverts. 21.- Details of the primary coverts. 22.- Details of the secondary coverts. 23.- Primary coverts. 24.- Greater coverts. 25.- Alulas. 26.- Rectrices. 27.- Rectrices. 28.- Details of the rectrices. 29.- Details of the rectrices. 30-. Details of the tips of the rectrices. 31.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 32.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 33.- Uppertail coverts. 34.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 35.- Details of the undertail coverts. 36.- Undertail coverts. 37.- Primary infra-coverts. 38.- Secondary infra-coverts. 39.- Chest feathers. 40.- Belly feathers. 41.- Assembly of the left flank feathers. 42.- Left flank feathers. 43.- Left flank feathers. 44.- Assembly of the back feathers. 45.- Back feathers. 46.- Left wing axillaries. 47.- Belly feathers.