Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix arenicola (Buturlin, 1904)

2011-10-27 Zhartybai well, Suzak region, South Kazakhstan oblast	© Andrey Vilyayev

Description

General colour is lighter, size smaller, wing more rounded and somewhat broader than robusta. "Cap" is small, brownish, often without grey bordering. Head-flanks and throat are light yellowish-red. Ear feathers and rear-neck are grey. Pattern on craw is neat and rare, but not as bright as on robusta. Belly-patch is small (often lack on females), dark-rusty or chestnut-red. Flanks have dark-rusty or chestnut-red spots which are much darker than on other races. Upper parts are greyish-buffy patterned with brown or pale-brownish bars often sandy or smoky tinged. Tail feathers have chestnut or reddish shade.

Distribution

Breeding in southern Kazakhstan from Mugodzhary ridge eastward to Tarbagatay and Zaysan depression, to the south up to northern Ustyurt, Syrdarya valley, adjusted plains, foothills up to low altitudes of Tien Shan (2000 m).

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.