The native partridge of northern Europe and Britain, this small, shy, dumpy bird is a subtle beauty compared with the more colourful Red-legged Partridge and bolder Chukar.

The Grey or ‘English’ Partridge is the only one native to Britain and Ireland. It was once a distinctive feature of arable farmland and hay meadows, especially when calling in spring or in winter coveys, but like many farmland birds it has declined dramatically over most of western Europe in recent decades. Like other partridges it is sociable, often seen in groups of 10 to 20 or so.