Gray partridge

Gray partridge photographed in Manitoba

A covey of gray partridge in a snowy field is easy to miss until it explodes into the air with a whirring of wings. These round, plump birds have a rusty face, a grey chest, and a dark horseshoe-shaped patch on the belly. They stay in tight groups through the winter, huddling together for warmth.

Also called the Hungarian partridge, this species was brought to North America from Europe and has made a home in farm fields and grasslands across the prairies. It stays in Manitoba all year, feeding on seeds and waste grain, and it roosts in the snow. In spring the coveys break up into pairs, and the female may lay a dozen or more eggs.

Want to learn more about the gray partridge and where it lives? Visit its page at All About Birds.

Here are some of my favourite frames of this bird.

Field notes in photographs

  • Gray partridge photographed in Manitoba, 1
  • Gray partridge photographed in Manitoba, 2
  • Gray partridge photographed in Manitoba, 3
  • Gray partridge photographed in Manitoba, 4
  • Gray partridge standing in deep snow beside frosted branches, with an orange face and rusty flank barring, Manitoba

Gray partridge Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the gray partridge in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the gray partridge lives year-round, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the gray partridge in Manitoba through the seasons: living year-round in the Prairies (teal). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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