Red-Legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa
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Distribution Britain 1,214 (+32.1%) Ireland 12
Numbers breeding: Britain 170,000 territories Ireland 0 European status: 3,300,000 (5% in Britain and Ireland =3) British population trend: fairly good but -30% CBC (+19% BBS){-6%} How likely are you to record it? 846 squares (18.8%) Ranked 54 [101=] |
This south-western European species was successfully introduced, for sport, to Suffolk in 1770, after a 100 years of unsuccessful attempts. The eggs, reared under chickens came from France — hence the alternative name of French Partridge. The birds gradually expanded to reach something like their current extent by 1930 but the exact situation is always complicated by new releases — even tried (unsuccessfully) in Ireland and in many places in Scotland (some resulting in breeding). Some 30 years ago Chukars (see above) and hybrids were released muddying the situation but now this is banned. Recent declines may be related to new patterns of release but the species may do well with hotter summers through global warming. Could do very well.
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead