Barbary partridge
Barbary partridge | |
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Alectoris barbara | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Phasianidae |
Genus: | Alectoris |
Species: | A. barbara
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Binomial name | |
Alectoris barbara (Bonnaterre, 1791)
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Perdrix_gambra_MHNT.jpg/220px-Perdrix_gambra_MHNT.jpg)
The Barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara) is a gamebird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae) of the order Galliformes. It is native to North Africa.
Distribution[]
The Barbary partridge has its main native range in North Africa, and is also native to Gibraltar[2] and the Canary Islands (Alectoris barbara ssp. koenigi).[3] It has been introduced to continental Portugal and Madeira, though there are no recent records of this species on the latter islands. It is also present in Sardinia.
Description[]
The Barbary partridge is a rotund bird, with a grey-brown back, grey breast and buff belly. The face is light grey with a broad reddish-brown gorget. It has rufous-streaked white flanks and red legs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.
It is closely related to its western European equivalent, the red-legged partridge. It is similar to the red-legged partridge, but it has a different head and neck pattern. The song is a noisy tre-tre-tre-tre-tre-cheeche-tre-tre-tre.
Breeding[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Alectoris_barbara_MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.5.8.jpg/220px-Alectoris_barbara_MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.5.8.jpg)
This 33–36 cm bird is a resident breeder in dry, open and often hilly country. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 10-16 eggs. The Barbary partridge takes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food.
The Barbary partridge is the national bird of Gibraltar.[4]
References[]
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Alectoris barbara". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678707A85855433. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678707A85855433.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "The Gibraltar Bird List: Bird species observed in or from the territory of Gibraltar". Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ^ (in Spanish) Martín P., Cardona A., Avifauna Canaria II, Aves de las Zonas Bajas p 55
- ^ "Gibraltar's Culture and Customs". Retrieved 3 August 2011.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alectoris barbara. |
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Alectoris
- Birds of North Africa
- Birds described in 1791
- Taxa named by Pierre Joseph Bonnaterre