This red legged partridge breeds naturally in south western Europe, in France and Iberia. It has become naturalised in flat areas of England and Wales, where it was introduced as a game species, and has been seen breeding as far North as Lancashire and Eastern Yorkshire. It is replaced in south eastern Europe by the very similar Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca). It is a non-migratory terrestrial species, which forms flocks outside the breeding season. This species breeds on dry lowlands, such as farmland and open stony areas, laying its eggs in a ground nest. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species: not simply the number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, known threats, and so on.
Taken in the Gore gardens 9 Sept 2010
Panasonic, Lumix, Model DMC-FZ35