The natural range of the red-legged partridge is France, Spain and Portugal. However, it was introduced from France to Great Britain in the 18th century, and has since become an important gamebird there. The red-legged partridge is a game bird in the partridge family sometimes known as French Partridge or simply as Redleg Partridges.
The Redleg Partridge is a rotund bird, with a light brown back, grey breast and buff belly. It has streaked flanks and red legs. The Redleg has a white forehead and a broken black line on their neck and throat which distinguishes them from the chukar. The two main differences in appearance between the Chukar and the Redleg are that Redlegs are brown and Chukars are grey and the Redlegs have significant speckling on their throats and breast and Chukars have no speckling. The main difference in how Redlegs act versus Chukars is that Redlegs are as wild or perhaps more wild than even Hungarian Partridge. They prefer a more grassland like habitat which consists of small grain or bushy terrain.
The Redleg is a fast and strong flying bird. They hold well in cover and get up and go when flushed. They use their deep chest to propel themselves uphill and flush downhill often giving hunters numerous chances. The Redleg can scurry across the ground at quick speeds to avoid predators, thus considering this bird a treasured catch for hunters looking to add speed to their hunts.
The American hunters that have experienced the Redlegs on U.K. shoots have been amazed at the flight speed and wildness of the Redlegs.
