Partridges, such as the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) and the Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa), are ground-dwelling birds that rely on an extremely varied diet throughout the year. Their ability to adapt their food intake to seasonal availability and specific nutritional needs is a major factor in their survival across agricultural and grassland habitats. They are flexible omnivores, consuming a dynamic mix of plant matter and invertebrates. This dietary flexibility allows them to thrive in diverse environments, from open fields to hedgerows, by capitalizing on whatever food source is most abundant.
The Core Wild Diet
The primary components of a partridge’s diet for most of the year are plant-based, establishing them as primarily herbivorous. Adult partridges consume a large volume of seeds, with cereal grains forming a significant portion, especially waste grain found in agricultural fields. They readily consume specific grains like wheat, oats, and barley, along with the seeds of common weeds such as knotgrass (Polygonum convolvolus) and lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album).
Partridges also regularly feed on green vegetative matter, picking at tender leaves and shoots. This includes the foliage of clover and winter cereal crops, which provides moisture and nutrients when other food sources are scarce. The consumption of roots and tubers occurs less frequently when birds scratch the ground to uncover buried vegetable matter. This balanced intake of high-energy seeds and fibrous greens sustains adult birds during non-breeding seasons.
Seasonal and Age-Related Dietary Shifts
Dietary needs shift dramatically based on both the season and the bird’s age, particularly during the early stages of life. Newly hatched partridge chicks require a high-protein diet of invertebrates to fuel their rapid growth and feather development. For the first few weeks, their diet consists predominantly of insects, spiders, and larvae, which provide the concentrated protein necessary for survival.
Specific high-value prey items include sawfly larvae, caterpillars, and various species of ants and beetles. If protein-rich invertebrates are scarce, chicks may experience stunted growth and reduced survival rates. As chicks mature, typically around ten days old, they develop the ability to process fibrous plant material and gradually transition to the adult diet of seeds and greens.
The winter months impose another major dietary change as fresh vegetation and invertebrates become unavailable. Adult partridges rely heavily on high-calorific food sources like stored seeds and waste grain left after harvest. During periods of extreme cold, a grey partridge may consume 50–75 grams of grain and weed seeds daily, up to 18% of its body weight. This maintenance-focused diet, often supplemented by hardy green shoots and buds, preserves body condition until the spring breeding season.
Foraging Habits and Habitat Needs
Partridges are dedicated ground foragers, walking and running through fields and along hedgerows while using a scratching and pecking motion to locate food. They often concentrate their foraging efforts around dawn and dusk, a pattern that balances nutritional intake with predator avoidance. This behavior requires them to spend time exposed in open habitats, making vigilance a constant necessity.
To efficiently process their tough, fibrous diet of seeds and plant matter, partridges must consume small, abrasive particles known as grit. These tiny stones are stored in the muscular gizzard, where they act as grinding agents to break down food before digestion. Without this grit, the birds would be unable to extract sufficient nutrients from hard seeds and grains. While foraging, partridges rely on nearby cover, such as dense grass margins or hedgerows, which provides a quick escape route from predators.
Supplemental Feeding Guidelines
For those supporting wild partridge populations, supplemental feeding is beneficial during harsh winter conditions or the late winter “hungry gap” before spring growth begins. Providing feeds like scattered wheat, cracked corn, or specific game bird mixes helps coveys maintain body condition. Wheat is often the preferred grain, offering a balanced mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Supplemental food should be offered in specialized feed hoppers to keep the grain dry, clean, and off the ground, which reduces the risk of attracting pests. These hoppers should be placed near natural cover to allow the birds to feed securely while remaining alert to danger.