Species:

Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

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Length (cm):
32-34
90-98
Wingspan (cm):
47-50
175-195
Weight (gram):
400-550
1020-2073
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Resembles Rock Partridge, Chukar and Barbary Partridge, but these can generally be excluded due to little overlap in range. May be confused with Partridge in flight, but note evenly coloured upperparts, larger size and white supercilium. Differs from all other Alectoris by the combination of broad, speckled collar and marked, black eyestripe. The white throat ends much higher than in congeners, and the upperparts are darker and more brownish. The barring on the flanks is less marked, and seems evenly coloured at a distance.

Sound:

Song very similar to Chukar and Rock Partridge. Differs from the latter by fuller and deeper tone and timbre, and more even rhythms. Harder to tell from Chukar, but note Red-legged's tendency to end phrases with a di- or trisyllabic "ka-kaaa" or "ka-ka-kaaa" with a drawn and accented last note. Similar rhythm may be heard in Chukar, but then as a main rhythmic motif. Other calls include hoarse, screeching short utterances.

Song:

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See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Jordi Calvet, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Very large, mostly unmistakable bird. Grey upperparts, white underparts and yellow/yellowish bill. Keeps neck retracted when flying (as opposed to crane). May be mistaken for Purple Heron, but back of neck grey, not brown. Bill heavy and dagger-shaped. Neck thicker and less angular than in Purple Heron. Unmarked cheeks.

Sound:

Quite vocal. Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. At breeding ground a varied repertoire of harsh and clattering sounds.

Flight call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Heron-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file