Partridge
| Perdicinae | |
|---|---|
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|
| Grey partridge (Perdix perdix) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae Horsfield, 1821 |
| Subfamily: | Perdicinae Horsfield, 1821 |
| Genus | |
|
Alectoris |
|
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.
Description[edit]
These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Partridges are ground-nesting seed-eaters.[citation needed]
According to Greek legend, the first partridge appeared when Daedalus threw his nephew, Perdix, off the sacred hill of Athena in a fit of jealous rage. Supposedly mindful of his fall, the bird does not build its nest in the trees, nor take lofty flights and avoids high places.[1]
Partridges appear as part of the first gift listed in the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".[2] As such, "A partridge in a pear tree" is sung as the last line of each verse. Richard Bache encouraged partridge propagation in 1790 and stocked partridges at his plantation in Beverly, New Jersey.
Partridges have also been used as a symbol that represents Kurdish nationalism. It is called Kew. Sherko Kurmanj discusses the paradox of symbols in Iraq as an attempt to make a distinction between the Kurds and the Arabs. He says that while Iraqis generally regards the palm tree, falcon, and sword as their national symbols, the Kurds consider the Oak, Partridge, and dagger as theirs.[3]
Species list in taxonomic order[edit]
- Genus Ptilopachus
- Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
- Nahan's partridge, Ptilopachus nahani
- Genus Lerwa
- Snow partridge, Lerwa lerwa
- Genus Tetraophasis
- Verreaux's monal-partridge, Tetraophasis obscurus
- Szechenyi's monal-partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii
- Genus Alectoris
- Arabian partridge, Alectoris melanocephala
- Przevalski's partridge, Alectoris magna
- Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca
- Chukar, Alectoris chukar
- Philby's partridge, Alectoris philbyi
- Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
- Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
- Genus Ammoperdix
- See-see partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis
- Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi
- Genus Perdix
- Grey partridge, Perdix perdix
- Daurian partridge, Perdix dauurica
- Tibetan partridge, Perdix hodgsoniae
- Genus Rhizothera
- Long-billed partridge, Rhizothera longirostris
- Hose's partridge، Rhizothera dulitensis
- Genus Margaroperdix
- Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagascarensis
- Genus Melanoperdix
- Black wood-partridge, Melanoperdix nigra
- Genus Xenoperdix
- Rubeho forest partridge, Xenoperdix obscuratus
- Udzungwa forest partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis
- Genus Arborophila, the hill partridges
- Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola
- Sichuan partridge, Arborophila rufipectus
- Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii
- White-necklaced partridge, Arborophila gingica
- Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
- White-cheeked partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
- Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis
- Hainan partridge, Arborophila ardens
- Chestnut-bellied partridge, Arborophila javanica
- Grey-breasted partridge, Arborophila orientalis
- Bar-backed partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus
- Orange-necked partridge, Arborophila davidi
- Chestnut-headed partridge, Arborophila cambodiana
- Red-breasted partridge, Arborophila hyperythra
- Red-billed partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris
- Scaly-breasted partridge, Arborophila chloropus
- Chestnut-necklaced partridge, Arborophila charltonii
- Sumatran partridge, Arborophila sumatrana
- Vietnam partridge, Arborophila merlini
- Genus Caloperdix
- Ferruginous partridge, Caloperdix oculea
- Genus Haematortyx
- Crimson-headed partridge, Haematortyx sanguiniceps
- Genus Rollulus
- Crested partridge, Rollulus roulroul
- Genus Bambusicola
- Mountain bamboo partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
- Chinese bamboo partridge, Bambusicola thoracica
References[edit]
- ^ Holmes, Richard (2013). Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air. HarperCollins. p. 1760. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ The Associated Press (November 26, 2012). "'12 days of Christmas' cost: How much is a partridge in a pear tree?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ Kurmanj, Sherko (2014). "The Roots of Modern Kurdish Nationalism". In Bengio, Ofra. Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fragmented Homeland. University of Texas Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-292-75813-1.
External links[edit]
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Look up partridge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Videos, photos and sounds - Internet Bird Collection
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