Red Legged Partridge

The Red-legged Partridge is a plump gamebird with bold black and white stripes on its face, a white throat edged with a black band, and bright coral-red legs and beak. Its sides have eye-catching chestnut, black, and buff vertical stripes. It comes from southwestern Europe but was brought to Britain in the 1670s for shooting. Now, it is common across England and parts of Wales and Scotland. This bird prefers open farmland, especially fields where crops are grown, with hedgerows, dry grassland, and scrubby edges. They are often seen in small groups called coveys. When disturbed, Red-legged Partridges usually run rather than fly, but if pushed, they take off with a loud flapping sound. Their unique cackling call can be heard across the countryside, especially at dawn and dusk.