Hens in snow
Photos Peep Käspre
Translation Liis
Partridges
Partridge Nurmkana or põldpüü Perdix perdix
The frosty weather brought the partridges to the field close to the farm. It was quite fun to observe their doings.
Partridges seem rather plump; a small head compared to the body; cheeks and throat yellowish-brown, chest and neck bluish-grey, back plumage greyish brown with white streaks. Both cocks and hens can have a dark chest patch. In flight view the reddish-brown feathers at the tail edges are well visible. On average 30 centimetres long and weight can vary between a quarter and a half kilo.
The plumage of the young birds is not as colourful yet; their exterior in general looks duller.
The numbers of partridges have dropped sharply in all of Europe. Likewise in Estonia but the situation is not quite as bad. The winter number is estimated at around a couple of ten thousand individuals.
Partridges are sedentary birds. They are on the list of game birds but considering the great decrease in numbers hunters simply don’t hunt them.
Partridge observations: LINK
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