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Hungarian Partridge (Perdix perdix)
Range: The Hungarian Partridge inhabits Great Britain, Northern Spain, France and Italy and east through Europe into Turkey, Russia and western Siberia. The introduction of the Hungarian Partridge is world wide. The gray or Hungarian Partridge, sometimes referred to as the "Hun", is another successful upland game bird that Europeans introduced into the United States in the 1900s. These birds are natural inhabitants of Central Europe and Asia. When in the field, people detect the Hungarian Partridge mainly on farms and wood lands in the northern United States and southern Canada. Here they nourish themselves mainly on insects, small grains, and weed seeds. Huns and chukars are the only true Partridges in the United States. Both are monogamous and stay in flocks, excluding the spring time when mating occurs. Of the 379 species of birds, Partridge is one of many birds that inhabits Manitoba. Roadside meadow plants, field curve, grassed streams, and odd areas of grass not usually grazed or reaped are very precious habitat for Huns. The Hun fancies open areas, rural areas and brush. Subspecies: There are seven subspecies of partridge in the world. They are Perdix perdix, Perdix hispaniensis, Perdix armoricana, Perdix sphagnetorum, Perdix lucida, Perdix canescens and Perdix robusta. The Hungarian partridge displays burnished orange color on its face and throat. The breast is finely streaked gray with a dark-chestnut horse shoe distinguishing marks on the upper body; the stomach is white and to light tan color. You can identify the Hungarian Partridge by its streaked brown, gray and white upper back and the wings dappled with dusky brown and a brownish-red tail. The colors the female Hungarian Partridge presents are similar to the male. The horse shoe marking on the breast of the female "Hun" appears smaller or fairer than in the male and sometimes no markings at all. You will find the common Hungarian Partridge in both the original ranges of Central Europe and Asia and in the United States and Canada. Small bird breeders and large scale game farms often keep and raise the Hun. Their breeding time begins in late April and may last into September. Because nest building and egg laying starts in late April in grassy protection of wild grass, hay, or grain fields, and hatching can continue into late June. Their nests sometimes become victims of farm equipment and intense cattle over grazing. In fact, "Huns" display little apprehension of running farm devices nearby. If the When chased from her nest early in the brooding cycle, she often deserts the nest. Late-cut hay, such as timothy and red clover, is relatively safe for nesting, Go To Page: 1 2 |
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