Family Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse (Phasianidae)
Least Concern
Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Taxonomy
French: Perdrix de Hey German: Arabisches Wüstenhuhn Spanish: Perdiz desértica
Taxonomy:
Perdix Heyi
Temminck
, 1825,Desert of Aqaba, Arabia
.
Subspecies and Distribution
A. h. heyi
(Temminck, 1825) – Jordan Valley S to Sinai Peninsula and through N & C Saudi Arabia.
A. h. nicolli
E. J. O. Hartert, 1919 – N Egypt (E of R Nile) S to C Egypt.
A. h. cholmleyi
Ogilvie-Grant, 1897 – C Egypt (E of R Nile) S to N Sudan.
A. h. intermedius
E. J. O. Hartert, 1917 – W Saudi Arabia S to Yemen, E through Oman (to Muscat) and Musandam Peninsula (UAE).
Introduced unsuccessfully to Cyprus.
Descriptive notes
22–25 cm; c. 180–200 g; wingspan 39–41 cm. Male slightly larger than female and has orange, rather than dull yellowish, bill; irides reddish brown or pale... read more
Voice
Male's advertising call is a rising, yelping "kew-kew-kew" or "watcha-watcha-... read more
Habitat
Desert and semi-desert, usually on steep, rocky slopes with scattered vegetation; boulder-strewn,... read more
Food and feeding
Mixed diet of seeds, berries and insects (including locusts); eats mostly seeds in summer; often takes berries of Salvadora persica... read more
Breeding
Season Feb–Aug in Israel, where probably double-brooded at least in years with good rains during preceding winter, with eggs in Mar... read more
Movements
Very few data available, but species is apparently only a vagrant in Lebanon and in Israel those at... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Common in Oman, where population stable; widespread, common and probably stable throughout most of range in Saudi... read more
Races intergrade; intermedius sometimes included within nominate heyi. Four subspecies recognized.