NATIVE GAMEBIRDS
PHEASANTS, being some of the most beautiful birds in the world, have long been a favourite with aviculturists. Meanwhile, partridges and their allies, the francolins and snowcocks, have been overshadowed by their more flamboyant relatives. Out of more than 40 species known as “partridge”, only a handful – notably the chukar, bamboo and roulroul – are well known in aviculture. More species of francolin have been kept and bred in captivity (17 species bred in the UK) than any partridge species.
Not all partridges conform to the dumpy, short-tailed template. Indeed, the term “partridge” is vague, and a number of “partridges” resemble pheasants. The two species of monal-partridges () are the most obvious example. Snowcocks are now classed as species of pheasant, but formerly were thought of as allied to partridges and recognised as a link
