# Barbary Partridge (*Alectoris barbara*) The Barbary Partridge is a colorful bird with a plump body and a short tail. They love to run and can be found in groups, making them fun to watch as they scurry around. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Barbary Partridge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Alectoris_barbara_Tenerife.jpg&width=800) Photo: Frits van der Meer from Utrecht, Nederland, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alectoris_barbara_Tenerife.jpg) ## Appearance The Barbary Partridge has a striking appearance with a grey-brown back, bold white and chestnut stripes on its flanks, and a distinctive broad chestnut collar on its white throat. Its face features a chestnut band extending from the bill over the eye, and it sports bright red legs and bill. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Phasianidae - **Genus:** Alectoris ## Interesting facts - A group of partridges is amazingly called a 'covey' – like a secret club! - Female Barbary Partridges can lay up to 16 eggs, needing a very big nest! - These partridges prefer to run incredibly fast up hills rather than fly away from danger! - They use dust baths to keep their feathers clean, just like taking a dry shower! ## Special abilities - **Stealthy Sprinter:** Barbary Partridge can outrun many dangers because its strong legs allow for rapid sprints across rocky, uneven terrain. - **Master of Disguise:** Barbary Partridge has speckled brown and grey feathers that help them blend perfectly into their rocky scrubland habitat. - **Charming Chatterbox:** Barbary Partridge can make a distinctive, rapid 'chuck-chuck-chuck' call that helps them communicate and warn others. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-35 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-55 cm - **Weight:** 0.4-0.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-16 - **Incubation:** 21-25 days ## Diet & Feeding Barbary Partridges enjoy a varied diet of seeds, greens, and tasty insects, foraging on the ground. - **Age differences:** Young partridges eat more protein-rich insects for growth, shifting to more plant matter as adults. - **Primary Foods:** seeds, leaves, berries, beetles, ants, grasshoppers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Red foxes are common predators of Barbary Partridge eggs and adults. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Powerful Golden Eagles sometimes prey on Barbary Partridges from above. - **Eats:** Mastic Tree (*Pistacia lentiscus*) — The partridge consumes seeds and berries from this Mediterranean shrub. - **Eats:** Wild Olive (*Olea europaea*) — Barbary Partridges feed on the fruits and seeds of wild olive trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Barbary Partridge? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Barbary Partridge? 30-35 cm ### What is Barbary Partridge's wingspan? 45-55 cm ### How much does Barbary Partridge weigh? 0.4-0.6 kg ### How long does Barbary Partridge live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Barbary Partridge move? 60 km/h ### What does Barbary Partridge eat? Barbary Partridges enjoy a varied diet of seeds, greens, and tasty insects, foraging on the ground. ### Where is Barbary Partridge usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Asinara National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/asinara-national-park) — IT · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Barbary Partridge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barbary-partridge)