Family Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse (Phasianidae)
Least Concern
Philby's Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)
Taxonomy
French: Perdrix de Philby German: Philbysteinhuhn Spanish: Perdiz gorjinegra
Taxonomy:
Alectoris philbyi
Lowe
, 1934,Taif, Hejaz, south-west Arabia
.Distribution:
SW Arabia from Jeddah S to NW Yemen.
Descriptive notes
33–36 cm; one bird 441 g. Black chin, cheeks and throat differentiate present species from all other members of genus, including A. melanocephala which is... read more
Voice
Recalls that of A. chukar, the main territorial call being a rhythmic and repeated “... read more
Habitat
Arid rocky areas in montane regions; from 1280 m to 2950 m in Saudi Arabia and 2300 m to 3600 m in... read more
Food and feeding
Believed to be similar to A. melanocephala, but very few data; the stomach of one bird contained a cricket. Generally recorded in... read more
Breeding
Pairs recorded Mar–Aug, during which period territorial calling peaks; nests with eggs in second week of Jun and first week of Jul;... read more
Movements
No information available, but presumably sedentary.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Locally common in Saudi Arabia and scarce in Yemen; overall population estimated at c. 25,000 pairs and is... read more
Closely related to A. graeca, A. chukar and A. magna#R, and all four have been considered conspecific. Monotypic.