Daurian Partridge

The Daurian partridge, also known as the steppe partridge, Asian grey partridge, or bearded partridge, is a plump gamebird belonging to the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is distinguished by its sandy-orange face and distinctive 'beard'—long feathers under the beak. The bird's head and underparts are pale slate-grey, accented with a buff line on the chest and a conspicuous black belly patch. Males are slightly more vivid and larger than females, with the latter sporting a smaller belly patch.

Identification Tips

Adults measure approximately 28–30 cm in length. During the fall, males weigh between 200–340 grams, while females tip the scales at 290–330 grams. To identify this species, look for the sandy-orange face, the beard-like feathers, and the unique chest and belly markings. The bird's song is a higher-pitched, faster version of the grey partridge's—a shrill, grating kieerr-ik.

Habitat

The Daurian partridge favors open grasslands or steppes, including agricultural areas. It thrives in temperate East Asia's open country, with a preference for landscapes that offer some bushes or open woodland for cover.

Distribution

This non-migratory terrestrial bird is found across a broad swath of temperate East Asia, from Kyrgyzstan to China and Mongolia. It often forms flocks in the non-breeding season and is known to share its range with the closely related grey partridge in some areas.

Behaviour

The Daurian partridge is most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk, opting to rest mid-day, particularly in warmer weather. When startled, it exhibits a characteristic explosive takeoff with rapid wingbeats, followed by a swift flight to nearby cover, all the while emitting an alarmed staccato hek-hek-hek.

Song & Calls

The bird's call is a distinctive and shrill kieerr-ik, reminiscent of the grey partridge but with a higher pitch and increased tempo.

Breeding

Breeding typically commences around the second to third week of May. The female prepares a nest lined with grass and twigs on the ground, often under a bush or within tall grass. Clutch sizes range from 13 to 20 olive-brown eggs. The chicks are pale yellow-brown with dark brown and rufous dapples.

Diet and Feeding

Daurian partridges primarily feed on seeds. However, chicks require a diet rich in insects to provide essential protein for their development. They are capable of short flights from as young as two weeks old.

Conservation status

The Daurian partridge is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, there is concern that it may be over-hunted in certain parts of its range.

Similar Species

The Daurian partridge is similar to and closely related to the grey partridge, with which it forms a superspecies. It can be differentiated by its unique vocalizations and slight variations in plumage.

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies of the Daurian partridge:

• P. d. dauurica (Pallas, 1811)
• P. d. suschkini (Poliakov, 1915)

The subspecies vary mainly in plumage, with those found further east exhibiting darker and more rufous coloring.