White partridge: a brief description and living conditions, what they eat, where they live and how the birds winter

External description of birds

The bird has a whole list of external features. If we give a brief description of the white partridge, it will be as follows:

miniature head with small eyes;
the beak is relatively small, with the tip bent downwards;
shortened neck and large rounded wings;
four-toed short paws with strong claws;
body length from 33 to 40 cm;
body weight from 0.5 to 0.7 kg.

The male stands out against the background of the female. Despite significant differences in size, both representatives of the species are distinguished by their ability to quickly and without problems find food for themselves. They search for food under the soil and use their paws for this. Even impressive gusts of wind do not prevent them from maintaining balance during the flight. Throughout the year, the partridge's plumage changes color. Depending on the season, the appearance of the bird may vary.

The white partridge has different colors depending on the season. In cold weather it is white with small speckles of a dark shade on the tail. Shortened snow-white feathers are also visible on the paws. From the outside it seems like they are slightly shaggy. Due to this color, the partridge can easily hide from predators.

Females change their appearance faster than males. Already in March you can see bright brown and yellow specks on the body. Eyebrows turn red. But the main background of the feathers remains unchanged. It is rich white.

With the onset of summer, birds often change their feathers. They turn brown. The flight feathers are white with a yellow tint. The same goes for the lower torso and legs. By the richness of the plumage, one can easily distinguish between male and female representatives. The male's feathers are always darker in color. It is on this basis that he is distinguished from females.

Either he barks or he laughs

My first acquaintance with the white partridge occurred in the summer of 1972 in the vicinity of the village. Vorgashor near Vorkuta. You are unlikely to forget such meetings. In June - early July, when I was laying out multi-kilometer profile routes from the village into the tundra in order to find out how man and his activities affect natural communities, I had to cross peat mounds and swampy depressions between them, walk around moss-sedge swamps slurping with water, to push through willows and dwarf birches with their twisting trunks, like tenacious paws “grabbing their boots.” I had only to leave the village and walk a few hundred meters through the surrounding willow or dwarf birch forests, when suddenly from the bushes with a loud bark, or a rude guttural laugh or even a croaking “kok, kubErr!” kbe-kbe-kbe! Kube-kube-kubeu-kubeeu-kubeeu” jumped out and flew low over the ground, flapping its wings as if someone was beating out a dusty carpet with a wicker beater; it didn’t even fly, but rushed away, a motley bird very reminiscent of a small chicken. Having flown a couple of hundred meters, she sat down on a hilly peat bog and almost merged with it, immediately disappearing from sight. This violator of the tundra idyll, in the silence of which before her appearance one could occasionally discern only a subtle, light whistle of the wind with the ear, turned out to be a male white partridge. After watching the bird and examining the bushes from where it had flown, I suddenly came across an unblinking brown eye that adorned the “variegated hummock.” It turned out that it was a female, sitting tightly on the eggs, and the male was simply leading me away from the nest. After all, it was the end of June in the tundra - the time when all the birds are sitting on their nests. Later there were a lot of such meetings, but almost every time they turned out to be unexpected, abrupt and even dumbfounded. I want to tell you more about this bird.

Living conditions of birds

In places where the partridge lives, a variety of shrub crops usually grow. They love to settle in berry plantations, miniature birch forests and among willow trees. It is here that these birds can get food for themselves at any time. It is noteworthy that they spend a significant part of their time on the ground.

It is extremely rare to see partridges in flight, and only because they sensed danger from the outside. Also an exception to the rule can be considered the moment when they make seasonal flights. It turns out that the appearance of the birds completely works for them. The plumage allows you to effectively hide and be invisible , and powerful limbs make it possible to quickly escape from the enemy.

Where this type of bird lives, there may be snow for a long time. But birds are not afraid of such harsh conditions, since they are well adapted to such a climate. They make passages under snow cover without any problems. Here partridges find food or hide from hunters and predatory animals. Sometimes they manage to spend almost a whole day under snow cover.

Individuals living in the southern regions lead a sedentary lifestyle. Those partridges that live on the territory of the Timan and Kaninskaya tundra also remain to winter in place. These areas are rich in willow trees.

The white partridge is considered a flocking bird. The number of individuals in the group in winter is small and ranges from 5 to 15 birds. When the period of flights begins, this number increases to several hundred. Birds are divided into pairs when the time comes for mating and the appearance of offspring. Individuals living in the northern regions fly closer to the southern regions during winter

Reproduction

Nesting time is also tied to the region of habitat and climatic conditions. In the steppe regions, birds begin ovipositing in the last days of April, and in the Altai mountains, at an altitude of 2000 m, females lay eggs in May and June. If the weather conditions are unfavorable and the warmth does not come for a long time, the females do not begin laying eggs at all.

Chukars form pairs with the arrival of spring and build nests in the resulting thawed areas. Males often fight with each other for the highest and cleanest places. Throughout the incubation period, the owner of the territory drives other males away from his area.

Courtship begins only when the male ptarmigan has found a suitable site for the nest. During the lekking flight, it circles around the female, and the mating ritual consists of a song, special calls and movements, poses and freezing. Outside the breeding season, partridges very rarely scream, but during this period of time they become not only noisy, but also active. The clucking sounds of females are inferior in strength to the guttural exclamations of males.

Typically, a partridge's nest is located under hummocks, in tall grass or thickets, under boulders or in holes under tree roots.

Holes in the ground lined with stems and branches can also serve as nests. One clutch can contain from 5 to 20 small pear-shaped eggs. The shell changes color from ocher yellow to pale yellow during the incubation period. By the time the chicks hatch, the egg shell becomes dull and pale. Incubation lasts 3 weeks.

Chicks are born covered with down, capable of movement and independent search for food. Both parents take care of the offspring, and the babies remain under supervision for two months. A few hours after hatching, the brood of white chicks is transferred to shelter - dense thickets of reeds, bushes and berries. Sometimes several females unite their broods into one flock and roam the tundra in search of food. Babies develop quickly, and by the end of the summer period they catch up with their parents in size.

Nutritional features and diet

Partridges prefer those areas where various grasses, shrubs and trees grow in sufficient quantities. Vegetation of any kind represents the main part of the diet. This is what the ptarmigan usually eats in the tundra:

In the cold season, birds consume willow and birch buds, branches and shoots.
With the onset of spring, they switch to seeds and leaves.
In summer, birds feed on blueberries, cloudberries and other berries. They like blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries. Aspen leaves are another favorite delicacy.

Literature

Madge S., McGowan P., Kirwan GM
Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails, and Sandgrouse of the World. - Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2002. - 488 p. — ISBN 0-7136-3966-0. (English)
Kurochkin E.N.
Birds of Central Asia in the Pliocene // Tr. joint Sov.-Mong. paleont. forwarding 1985. Vol. 26. P. 1-119.
Zelenkov N.V., Kurochkin E.N.
Neogene pheasants of Central Asia. 2. Genera Perdix, Plioperdix and Bantamyx // Paleontological Journal, 2009, No. 3, p. 79-86.
Kozlova E. V.
Birds of zonal steppes and deserts of Central Asia. Proceedings of ZIN. T. 59. L., 1975.

Mating games and life expectancy

The white partridge lives from 10 to 13 years in the wild. Unfortunately, sometimes they die earlier, as they become the target of hunting by predatory animals. An unfavorable period in this regard is considered to be the time of mating games. Then the males begin to divide nesting territories, which often ends in a fight. If they occur with particular cruelty, one of the opponents may die.

When the male manages to win a nesting place, he begins to look for a female. At the same time, it makes specific sounds, which zoologists call a mating song. The chants are accompanied by a kind of dance that the male performs near the female. If he chooses a mate, then it is for life. White partridges are monogamous.

These are silent birds, but during the breeding season their voices do not stop. Males perform songs even when flying.

They take off sharply, emitting screams, and 15 minutes later they just as sharply descend to the ground, emitting a trill. The song ends when the male is on the surface of the ground. After warm weather finally sets in, the birds move on to building nests.

Kinds

Ptarmigan, as a genus, have 3 species: white, tundra and white-tailed. White partridge. It differs in that it settles mainly in our tundra, on Sakhalin, Kamchatka and in the north of America. Sometimes it can also be found in the area of Greenland and Great Britain.

This species has rather large paws, and they are very fluffy. This helps the white partridge to feel very confident and reliable in cold snowy areas. She can move around with ease. And no cold weather, nor the length of the distance traveled, bothers her.

This species is also famous for its ability to very quickly and deeply make peculiar labyrinthine caves in the snow in search of a suitable lunch. Anything you can find under the snow will work here: dried grass, berries, flowers. This summer menu will become more varied, followed by the annual traditional diet in winter.

Tundra partridge. In appearance, this species has very few differences from the previous one. A small nuance - a black stripe near the eyes, that's the whole difference. In spring and summer, the color is almost the same variegated as that of its white relative.

This species of ptarmigan prefers to gather in small flocks and leads a sedentary and nomadic life. It prefers to settle mainly on rocky slopes, where there are quite a lot of shrubs of all kinds.

Birds consider these places to be the most suitable environment for raising offspring. For the future generation, caring parents are making cozy nests right here. Having found a suitable place, they first dig a hole and then cover its bottom with leaves and twigs.

The tundra partridge became famous for its amazing ability to survive, which earned it great authority among the Japanese. They even made it their symbol in some prefectures on the island of Honshu!

But in Iceland this bird was appreciated for a different reason. Local residents liked its taste. And even despite the fact that the species of these partridges is endangered, Icelanders do not stop shooting birds. True, now only at strictly defined times - in October and November, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just like that.

Unlike the white partridge, the tundra partridge can choose both valleys and hills as its place of residence. And they give preference to the region that offers more varied food. With a successful combination of circumstances, they can be found even in our birch groves.

White-tailed partridge. This partridge is the smallest of the three species. Prefers to live in Alaska and North America. In winter, representatives of the species have an absolutely white, pure color. Even their tail is white. But in spring and summer, their outfit differs little from that of their relatives.

But the main difference between this partridge and those listed above is that it is an absolutely mountain bird. It is impossible to meet her on the plain. Moreover, if you want to see her or take a rare selfie with her, you will have to overcome a height of 4 km!

This bird categorically refuses to improve its life below. After all, only from such a height does the coolness begin, which is the ideal climatic condition for the white-tailed fish

Among other things, it is important that the slopes are gentle enough and easy to move

And the vegetation is short grass and low-growing sparse bushes. White-tailed partridges avoid densely growing grass and large bushes. The exact number of individuals of this species has not yet been established. In general, there is very little data on whitetails. But it has a solid status - a symbol of Alaska.

Number of individuals and bird harvest

Ptarmigan have been hunted for a long time. Their meat was widely in demand, especially among the northern inhabitants of the country. The birds did not adapt well enough to being kept at home, and therefore breeding partridges of this breed did not become popular.

In the wild there are enough animals that are interested in capturing these birds. Among them are lemmings, skuas, white owls, arctic foxes, and herring gulls. They attack them and destroy nests with eggs. That is why the size of the group directly depends on the territory where the predators are located and their numbers.

Climatic conditions also play a major role. Sometimes cold weather lasts for a long time. In the absence of sun and comfortable temperatures, birds refuse to nest. This is not surprising, because cold weather in the spring can be destructive for the brood. At the same time, when the weather is favorable, a rapid increase in the number of partridges is observed.

The white partridge is not classified as a rare species on the verge of extinction. For this reason, it was not included in the Red Book. Staying in hard-to-reach areas is also to thank for this. This protects the bird from extinction. The harsh climate they prefer also plays a role. Despite this, special measures are being taken today to protect birds. Special areas are organized where the white partridge can live without potential danger to itself.

Preparing to cook

Before you start preparing a partridge meat dish, the bird must be properly prepared. To do this, the carcass is plucked, then the entrails are removed, and then the meat is cut.

How to pluck?

There are two ways to pluck a partridge - dry and wet. The first option is suitable if the bird was recently shot and is still warm. The second method is applicable when the partridge has already cooled down.

Step-by-step instructions on how to pluck a partridge dry:

Place the carcass on the table with its belly up.
Starting from the chest area, pinch off one feather at a time against the growth. If you grab several feathers at once and pull in the direction of growth, you can damage the skin.
After processing the breast, it is the turn of the tail and wings. It is in these areas that feathers are very difficult to pluck, so you will have to be patient. You can also use special tweezers.
The dorsal part of the carcass is plucked in the same way as the chest.
After this, the feathers need to be removed from the paws. If you can't pluck some feathers, that's okay. They will remove themselves after singeing the carcass over the fire.
Don't worry if there are feathers or fluff left on the wings or legs. These parts of the carcass are still cut off.

After the bird has been plucked, you can move on to gutting.

Wet method of plucking a partridge carcass:

Heat water in a deep container.
Then lower the partridge carcass there, holding it by the legs. Keep in liquid for no longer than 7 seconds.
If the feathers are still difficult to pluck after this procedure, the carcass can be immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
Then you should let the carcass cool. After this, you can begin to remove the feathers.
The plucking process will be exactly the same as when plucking a partridge using the dry method.

Cleaning poultry using the wet method is much faster than dry plucking. In this case, you can remove absolutely all feathers.

How to gut?

Partridge should be gutted with extreme caution, being careful not to damage the gall bladder. To gut a bird, you need to make a shallow cut in the lower area of the carcass, where the belly is located.

After this, all the internal organs of the bird are pulled out through this incision.

You should also cut off the head and paws, and remove the crop. You can also remove the neck. Due to this, the insides will be removed much easier.

After gutting, the carcass should be thoroughly washed under running water to remove all blood clots.

How to cut?

To cut a partridge carcass without waste, you need to do the following:

Separate the legs. To do this, you will need to place the carcass on its back. Grasp the leg with one hand and pull it slightly to the side, making an incision at the junction of the leg and the body. After this, you need to sharply twist the leg out of the joint, completely cutting the skin that holds the leg to the carcass.
Remove the wings. You will need to make an incision in the place where the shoulder joint is located and separate the wing from the body, pulling the wing slightly to the side.
Divide into two parts. To do this, make an incision along the entire vertebral region, as well as in the center of the brisket.
Separate the back and breast. To do this, you just need to run a knife along the junction of the ribs.

If the partridge carcass is large, it is fashionable to divide one part of the breast into a couple more parts.

How to marinate?

Marinating partridges is necessary to ensure that the carcass does not lose weight, and also to make the meat more tender and aromatic. The sauce acts as a marinade. To prepare it, you will need to heat butter and vegetable oil in a frying pan (taken in equal proportions), and then place the partridge carcass there and fry for 5 minutes. Add chopped shallots, thyme and bay leaf to the meat. You can also add a little chicken broth. The contents of the container should simmer over low heat for 60 minutes.

After this, the carcass should be thoroughly rubbed with a mixture of butter, thyme and salt. Carefully wrap the meat in bacon strips and marinate in a cool place for 60 minutes.

Area

In past eras, the planet's climate was much colder and harsher, and partridges could have been much more widespread than today. Paleontologists claim that during the Pleistocene era they were settled in Southern Europe and the Balkans, Ukraine, Hungary and even Crimea.

Where do ptarmigan live today? Currently, their range includes mainly the Arctic and subarctic zones, as well as mountain subalpine belts. They are found mainly in the forest swamps and tundra of Russia, USA, Canada, Scandinavian and Baltic countries. However, birds are also found in the forest-steppes in northern Kazakhstan, in the mountains of Mongolia, Scotland, and in the heather meadows of Great Britain. They live in the Czech Republic, Ireland and Germany. They are not found in Greenland, Iceland or too close to the Arctic Circle. The northernmost areas of their distribution are at a latitude of 76 degrees, the southernmost - at a latitude of 45-60 degrees.

Natural enemies

The main natural enemies of partridges in nature are gyrfalcons, arctic foxes and polar owls. Chicks are often eaten by skuas and large gulls. The partridge population exhibits a 4-5 year cycle of fluctuations associated with a decrease and increase in the number of lemmings. When there are fewer rodents, predators kill many more partridges.

In many regions, partridge is actively hunted; the bird is valued for its tasty meat. In some areas, due to intensive shooting, birds had to be placed under protection.

Habitats

Traditionally, the white-plumed partridge is a bird of cold latitudes, characterized by high rainfall and long, harsh winters. For her, the taiga, tundra and forest-tundra zones are considered her home. She prefers to settle in swamps, where there is a lot of peat and moss.

The white partridge lives in North America, Eurasia and Greenland. It can also be found in the marshy areas of Scotland and England. As for the territory of Russia, here she lives on Sakhalin and Kamchatka.