THE RED PARTRIDGE

This wild gallinacea belongs to the pheasant family. It has a chestnut brown head, with a white strip over the eyes; the lower part of the neck and the chest are a bluish-grey, edged with a black collar. The flanks are a light grey colour, striped with chestnut brown, black and white. The beak and feet are red.

The bird is medium-sized, with a rounded body and short tail, and is usually about 33 to 38 cm. in length and between 50 and 60 cm. in height. The tail can measure up to 12 cm. and the weight is normally around 420 to 550 g. It has a clucking call, which is one of the best ways of finding it.

The red partridge normally lives in mountain foothills, taking cover in crops and thick vegetation. In the chick stage it feeds on all kinds of insects, completing its diet with grains, vegetables and berries. As it grows it slowly reduces its intake of invertebrates.

This well-known Spanish countryside bird is one of the most popular in the world for its game characteristics, particularly its fast gait which, together with sudden and rapid flights when it alternates beating its wings with gliding, makes for challenging hunting and therefore greater satisfaction on capture.