Perdix perdix

Interesting facts: With its good camouflage grey-brown plumage, the partridge crouches flat against the floor when it senses danger. Its camouflage is particularly important during the breeding period. The hen builds a nest on the ground in the middle of dense vegetation. If an intruder comes too close to the nest, the female suddenly flies up violently to scare it. When it goes looking for food, it covers the nest with vegetation. The main food is seeds and wild herbaceous plants. Stomach stones are also swallowed to aid digestion.

Characteristics: Plumage predominantly grey with rust-red striped flanks, head orange-brown, darker abdomen patch in males; powerful, grey beak

Body length: Longer than 30 cm (longer than a blackbird)

Distribution: Open land, arable land, waste land, ditches and hedges