Barbary Partridge

Overview

The Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara, is a rotund gamebird belonging to the pheasant family (Phasianidae). Native to North Africa, it is closely related to the red-legged partridge found in western Europe.

Identification

• Rotund body with a grey-brown back, grey breast, and buff belly.
• Light grey face featuring a broad reddish-brown gorget and rufous-streaked white flanks.
• Red legs and rounded wings; prefers to run when disturbed but can fly short distances.
• Noisy song described as 'tre-tre-tre-tre-tre-cheeche-tre-tre-tre'.

Habitat

Native to North Africa, the species resides in dry, open, and often hilly country. It has been introduced to Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, continental Portugal, and Sardinia, though recent records from Madeira are absent.

Diet

The bird consumes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food. It usually begins feeding and drinking at dawn.

Did you know?

The Barbary partridge is the national bird of Gibraltar and appears on the 1 pence local coins. In Tunisia, it has occasionally nested in the empty tree nests of the African Magpie to escape strong ground predation.