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Gray
Partridges in Ottawa |
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On a cold morning, we spotted a covey of 6 Gray Partridges huddled
together. They blended in so well, they could easily be overlooked
as a jagged rock. Roosting together in a tight group is important
for conserving heat during cold weather and in deep and soft snow (Birds of North America online).
Suddenly they looked up....see video and next photo. Ottawa on 29 January 2020. |
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VIDEO: Covey of Gray Partridges in Ottawa |
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Suddenly they looked up because a Short-eared Owl flew over, which
scared them into flying away for cover under some trees. Ottawa on
29 January 2020. |
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VIDEO: Gray Partridges feeding on weed seeds in Ottawa |
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Charmaine Anderson and I watched six Gray Partridges in a weedy
field on a construction site. These abandoned fields are all that
remain of the original farmland, which is now built on. It was a cold, snowy day, so the
partridges were out in the open. Ottawa on 28 January
2020. |
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Gray Partridge eating weed seeds. Not native to
North America, Gray Partridges were introduced as a game bird into
Ontario over a century ago and did well on traditional farmland with
old pastures, crop fields, crop rotation, hedgerows and low
pesticide use. Ottawa on 28 January 2020. |
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Delightful to watch, they moved about eating weed
seeds and other wild plants sticking above the snow. They also eat
the seeds of domestic crops. Ottawa on 28 January 2020. |
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Some had a belly patch like the one above, others had a few spots and some had no dark belly markings at all.
This individual could be a male as this patch is more developed in
males. Ottawa on 28 January 2020. |
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They foraged as a covey,
staying close together at all times. Ottawa on 28 January 2020. |
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