Ammoperdix

Ammoperdix
See-see partridge (A. griseogularis)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Tribe:	Coturnicini
Genus:	Ammoperdix Gould, 1851
Type species
Perdix heyi Temminck, 1825
Species
Ammoperdix griseogularis Ammoperdix heyi

Ammoperdix is a small genus in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes.

Species

It contains two similar species:

Genus Ammoperdix – Gould, 1851 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
See-see partridge	Ammoperdix griseogularis (Brandt, JF, 1843)	southeast Turkey through Syria and Iraq east to Iran and Pakistan	Size: Habitat: Diet:	LC
Sand partridge Male Female	Ammoperdix heyi (Temminck, 1825)	southeast Turkey and east to Pakistan	Size: Habitat: Diet:	LC

The see-see partridge occurs in southwest Asia, and the sand partridge in Egypt and the Middle East. Both are resident breeders in dry, open country, often in hill areas.

Both partridges in this genus are 22–25 cm (8.7–9.8 in) long, rotund birds. They are mainly sandy brown, with wavy white and brown stripes on their flanks. The males have distinctively-patterned grey heads, but the females are very washed-out in comparison, and this lack of a distinctive head pattern makes it more difficult to distinguish their species.

When disturbed, Ammoperdix partridges prefer to run rather than take to the air, but if necessary they will fly a short distance on rounded wings.

References

• Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse by Madge and McGowan, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0