Black Partridge. Indian Francolin 

Range: Southern Asia, from Cyprus and the Caspian region east throughout Turkry ,Iraq, Syria,Iran up to India. Once found in southern Europe west into Spain, has now been re-established in central Italy.
Black partridge is a common game bird in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and in less numbers in Jordan 

Subspecies: 
Francolinus francolinus francolinus, 
F. f. arabistanicus, 
F. f. henrici, 
F. f. asiae, 
F. f. bogdanovi, & 
F. f. melanonotus. 
It is believed that the subspecies kept in American aviaies is the asiae which is native to western India. 

Habitat: Varied, prefers areas of thick vegetation, usually near water. 

Description: 

Male: The face and breast are jet black in color. Distinctive white, almost oval markings are found on the outer edes of the breast below a chestnut band which encircles the neck like a collar. A large white cheek patch appears below and behind each eye. The crown, upper back, and wings are mottled brown, black and white. The lower back and tail are black barred with white and fulvous brown. The lower part of the abdomen near the legs is chestnut barred with white. The legs are reddish orange.

Female: Generally sandy brown in color with black and white scalloped markings. The throat and abdomen are marked with black Y-shaped bars which vary in intensity and size. The chestnut color is found mainly on the back of the neck. 
Status in Wild: As mentioned, the Black Francolin once had a broad range from Spain east to India, now has been eliminated from most of Europe and is threatened in Russia and in Cyprus. The status in Asia has not been well documented. Where it has been introduced on Hawaii, it is now thriving and is a game species; the status in Louisana and Florida is not known at this time. 

Breeding Season: April to June. 

Clutch Size: 8 to 12; 

Incubation Period: 18 to 19 days. 

Males make loud calls during the breeding season and they may also become aggressive during this season.

Grey partridge Perdix perdix 

Identification:
· Length: 10 inches 
· Sexes similar 
· Stocky, ground-dwelling partridge with short, rounded wings 
· Grayish-brown bird without bright markings 
· Short, thick, pale bill 
· Tawny cinnamon face with uncrested brown crown and ear patch 
· Gray nape and breast with fine, dark vermiculations 
· Brown back and upperwings 
· Reddish-brown bars on flanks 
· Rufous outer tail feathers visible in flight 
· Male has dark brown patch on center of belly, female has smaller or absent marking 
· Immatures similar to adults but have yellow rather than blue-gray feet 
Similar species: 
Chukar has red bill, black eye line and necklace, and black bars on flanks. Northern Bobwhite has different face pattern and is smaller with a grayish tail in flight. 
Life History Groupings
Migration Status:Permanent resident 
Breeding Habitat:N/A 
Nest Location:N/A 
Nest Type:N/A 
Clutch Size: 8-15 
Length of Incubation: 23-25 days 
Days to Fledge: 13-15 
Number of Broods: 1 
Diet: 
Almost Exclusively: 
· Seeds 
Lesser Quantities of: 
· Insects 

Chukar Alectoris chukar 

Identification :
· Length: 10 inches 
· Sexes similar 
· Stocky, ground-dwelling quail with short, rounded wings 
· Short, thick, red bill 
· Red eyering 
· Black band above bill, through the eye and across upper neck 
· Buff face and throat enclosed by black necklace 
· Blue-gray crown, nape, breast and back, with a brownish suffusion on the back 
· White belly 
· Black bars on pale flanks 
· Rufous outer tail feathers visible in flight 
· Red legs and feet 
· Immatures similar to adults 
Similar species: 
Gray Partridge has a rusty face without a black necklace, a duller bill and reddish bars on the flanks. 

One of the most commonly kept and bred of all game birds, they are considered as a symbol for the Kurds at Northern Iraq. Chukars are also known as great birds for the beginner in the hobby, being very easy to keep and breed in captivity. 

There are fourteen recognized subspecies that range from Turkey, the Mediterranean islands, Iraq, Iran and east through Russia and China and south into Pakistan and Nepal. The Chukar has also been successfully introduced into western North America, the Hawaiian Islands, England and New Zealand. 

Chukars resemble other members of the genus Alectoris, being mostly gray all over with a black band from the eyes, down to below the neck. They also have several black bars on the flanks. The sexes are similar, with the female having a smaller knob on the legs than the males. Males also appear to be somewhat larger as well. Both sexes share the bright red bill and legs. Chukars have been known to hybridize with other members of the genus. 

Breeding 

Chukars are very versatile breeders in captivity. They can be kept in pairs, trios and even in large colonies. Best fertility is with the smaller groups. Hens begin to lay in April and may lay well into the Summer. Hens may lay a large number of eggs in a season. 40 to 50 eggs per hen is not unusual. Chukars, as a rule, will not usually sit on their own eggs, so you will need to gather the eggs and place them in an incubator. Small bantams may be used, but choose only the smallest hens to set. Incubation lasts about 23 days. 

Chicks are easy to raise. They are very active and require lots of room in the brooder. They are prone to cannibalism, so don't overcrowd in the brooder. They grow quickly and can be placed outside at about 6 weeks of age.


General Comments 

As previously mentioned, Chukars are great birds for beginners as they are so easy to keep and breed. Like most other partridges, Chukars do best when kept in wire-bottom pens. If kept on the ground, they are very susceptible to a number of worms, as well as the disease blackhead. You can keep the birds on the ground if the aviary is well drained and there is no standing water. Chukars are native to dry, rocky areas in the wild, so landscape the aviary accordingly. It is also wise to worm the birds monthly as well. When kept on wire, Chukars are seperated from the organisms in the soil. You can place a pan of sand for the birds to "dust" themselves in. 

Chukars are very hardy and can withstand both extremes of temperatures. During the Winter, keep as many birds as you can together so they can covey for warmth. 

Common Quail

Coturnix coturnix

The popular Quail is a favorite of game bird breeders, hunters and bird lovers alike. Just about everyone is familiar with male's call for which the species is named. These plump little birds have the most widespread range of any quail species, with over 20 supspecies ranging from Canada to southern Mexico. They have also been introduced abroad, to such places as Hawaii and New Zealand, as a game species. Commercial game bird farms raise thousands each year for release in the US and Canada. 
Of the subspecies, the Eastern Bobwhite (C. V. Viriginaus), is the most often kept and seen. They are found in a variety of habitats, from open woodlands & fields to suburban parks. Those with bird feeders in their yards are sometimes greeted a few quail who come to feed on the seed that is dropped by the other birds. Males have a white throat and eye-line, with a dark crown and a black line that seperates the white on the throat to the eye-line. The lower breast is mottled white & dark brown; sides have light brown streaks and the back and rest of the body mottled brown overall; tail gray. The hens are similiar, but her throat and eye-line is buff and her overall color is somewhat lighter. They form large groups during the winter called coveys. These coveys can consist of up to 30 or more birds and when disturbed, all will burst into flight at once. 
They are popular with breeders in captivity, but remain on the Endangered Species List in the wild. These birds are similar to the eastern race, but males have a very dark face & throat. They also appear darker overall. 
The further south you travel into Mexico, the Bobwhite subspecies differ a great deal from the northern counterparts. Many have much more white on the throats and a more detailed barring on the breast. It is a shame that some of these races have yet make their way to our aviaries, as they are beautiful birds. Perhaps in the future, some may make their way and become established in captivity. 
Breeding 
Bobwhites present no problems in captive rearing, and can be produced easily in modest surroundings or large aviaries. Many producers house their breeders in breeding batteries, some as small as 1'x1'x1' and keep them in trios or pairs. These batteries are designed to allow the keeper to feed, water and gather eggs (sloped flooring) without entering the cage. We have had success keeping our quail in larger wire bottom cages, usually about 2'x3'x2' with roosts and material for nesting. We also kept a pair in large flight aviary with other birds one year and they did very well. You can choose to colony mate (several hens with two or three males), trios (one male with two hens) or in pairs. 
General comments
Bobwhite hens begin laying in mid April and may lay all summer long. The eggs are pure white and are incubated for 21 days. You will probably have to use artificial incubation with this species, as many captive hens are mass producers of eggs are highly unlikely to go broody in a cage setting. Bobwhites are also induced into laying earlier than normal using artificial light. Some larger farms also use the lights to have hens produce eggs year round. 
Chicks are easy to raise in the brooder. They require a high protein diet and lots of room, as they are very active and prone to picking if overcrowded. The chicks are kept in a brooder setting for about six weeks, then they are moved to covered, outdoor enclosure. 
As mentioned, Bobwhites are easy to keep and raise. They are often one of the first species of quail for the beginning quail breeder and many long-time breeders keep them around for the male's call. Like many other species of quail, they seem to do best on wire, but can be kept on the ground if the aviary is well-drained. 
During the Winter, birds that are not kept indoors such as a barn, should be grouped together so they can form natural coveys for warmth. I also recommend keeping dry straw or hay in the cage during the Winter. 
Bobwhite should be fed a good quality game bird ration of at least 16% protein during the non-breeding season to 20% during the laying period. I also supplement their diet with various grains, greens and mealworms. 
Mutations 
There have been a number of mutations developed in captivity. Some of the popular colors include the Mexican Speckled, the Tennesse Red, White and Silver Bobwhites. There are also strains developed for their large size, such as the Wisconsin Jumbo and the Indiana Giant. I will add a more complete description of the mutations and perhaps another page for them at a later date. Care and breeding of the various mutations is the same as the normal Bobwhite. 






Button quail

The tiny Chinese Painted Quail, widely known as the Button Quail, is one of the most widely kept and smallest of all game bird species. They are popular with cage and aviary bird enthusiasts, who use this species to "clean-up" seed spilled by hookbills or finches. You will also see this species in many pet stores, perhaps due to their small, cute size, they are very popular as pet birds. 
Button Quail, also known as the Asian Blue Quail, Blue-breasted or King Quail, are found from India and southern China south through Indonesia into New Guinea and northeast Australia in 10 subspecies. It is believed that most birds in US aviculture are from the nominate subspecies, C. C. Chinensis. There are also many color mutations that have been developed in captivity. Little is known of their habits and status in the wild. 
As seen in the photograph to the right, males are overall dark brownish-blue with a white and black face and throat. The breast is lighter bluish-gray, with a chestnut-red belly. The feet are yellow, bill is black. Hens are mottled brown overall and lack the white and black markings on the face and throat. 
Breeding
Button Quail are easy to raise in both cages and aviaries. They will breed year-round if kept under lights. In larger cages or aviaries, one can allow the hen to set and incubate her own eggs. Since the chicks are so tiny, ensure that the wire has some type of barrier or protection to keep the chicks from escaping. They are able to squeeze through 1/2 inch hardware cloth!! 
Incubation period is 16 days and the chicks grow quickly. You will need to make sure the waterers for the chicks are small or place some marbles in the fount to make sure they do not get in and drown. The marbles also encourage the birds to drink and find the water, as they are attracted to the shiny colors of the marbles. 
General Comments
As mentioned, you can house these little birds with a number of cage birds. Our breeders are currently housed with Zebra Finches and Weavers. They feed on a mixture of finch diet and game bird breeder mash. They are supplemented with mealworms, spray millet and various greens. 
Button Quail are known to fly straight up when startled. To prevent the birds from injuring themselves, clip the flight feathers or place a piece of foam padding on the inside top of the cage. They are not winter hardy and it is recommended that if you live in a climate that has cold winters, to keep the birds indoors. There are many websites devoted to keeping Button Quail, 

Mutation
The most common of the mutations, and perhaps the first developed, is the Silver. Silvers are marked like the wild type, but the overall color has been replaced with a light gray or silver. Another common mutation is the White, which is completely white with no markings. 

Houbara Bustard 

Kingdom: Animalia 
Phylum: Chordata 
Class: Aves 
Order: Gruiformes 
Family: Otididae 
Genus & Species: 
Chlamydotis undulata 
Features : Houbara bustard is known as one of the beautiful and mangificent birds
of deserts. Maximum body length (bill to end of tail) is 65 cm, in shape resembling a
female turkey. Male and female are outwardly similar, however males are about 10%
larger in size. Neck and tail are noticeably long, wings comparatively narrow. Both
sexes have large eyes, short black and white crest and tufts of long black and white
feathers drooping over the neck. Males have ornate bristles on the head and neck. 

The plumage is mainly brownish-buff with wavy lines; under-parts are white, with
greyish throat. The top of the tail is grey with darker vertical markings. Immature
males resemble females, however, less ornate feathers are seen on the female's neck. 

Houbara bustard has three sub-species which are : 
Chlamydotis undulata undulata
Ch. undulata fueraventurae
Ch. undulata macqueenii

Ch. undulata fueraventurae is the smallest sub-species living in the Canary Islands.
Ch. undulata macqueenii is larger than the other two and is seen in Asia, also
breeding in Iran. 
Habitat : Desert and semi-desert regions, open savannas with vegetation cover that has a maximum height of 2 m., grassy plains and stony or sandy steppes. In spring and summer, they are sometimes seen around agricultural land. 
Distribution and Migration : Bustard is a migratory bird, however in some places such as West Palearctic, Armenia, Syria, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Egypt,Iraq, Libya and Iran, they are regarded as native. The sub-species, ch.undulata macqueenii breeds in the Middle East, particularly the Southern regions of Asia and Middle East. 
Migratory birds travelling to Iran, fly from the neighbouring countries like
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan at the outset of autumn, sharing the same habitats as
the native birds. 

Food : Houbara bustard is omnivorous, consuming a great variety of seeds, fruits,
insects and small vertebrates such as lizards, and invertebrates. 

Behaviour : The most interesting behaviour of Houbara bustards is seen during their
elaborate terrestrial courtship displays. The male inflates the crest, neck and head
feathers, raises the wings and while walking slowly and gracefully, keeps the tail raised
like an umbrella and occasionally lowers the wings. Then suddenly, he begins leaping
back and forth, all the while, trying to attract a female. 
Houbara bustards are monogamous.

Bustards lay their eggs in a scrape on the ground, usually sandy ground, and fill it with
feathers or leaves and twigs. Houbara bustards prefer to make their nests in the shade,
like underneath bushes, so as to be protected from direct sunlight and hidden from
enemies. 
Eggs are greyish olive in colour with numerous brown spots. 
Houbara bustards lay a total of three eggs. The size of each is on average 65*49 mm
and weighs between 67-68g. they sometimes lay between 4-5 eggs, as does the
macqueenii race. 

The young are nidifugous and hatch covered in down, leaving the nest after a short
period of about one week, during which they are fed by the female. The young are
able to fly about 35 days after hatching.

Conservation : In the past, Houbara bustards were seen in great numbers in most
of the desert regions of Iran; however, in recent years due to the destruction of
habitats, and over hunting, their numbers have greatly fallen. 

The Department of Enviornment in Iran has taken measures to stop this trend.
Therefore, like the Arabian countries and Spain, it has set out to rear Houbara
bustards artificially, but the results are still unknown. 

Despite this department's endeavours to prevent habitat destruction and control
hunting, it seems that because of the extent of houbara's habitat and range, not
enough has been done. What is necessary is an increase in the public's cooperation
and awareness of the importance of the conservation of Houbara bustards as a part
of the country's animal diversity. 

Sandhill crane Grus canadensis 

Identification:
· Length: 37 inches Wingspan: 80 inches 
· Large, long-legged, long-necked bird 
· Long, pointed bill 
· Holds neck straight both at rest and in flight, not tucking it in like herons do 
· Dark gray legs extended in flight 
· Long, fluffy tertials droop down over tail and primaries 
Adult: 
· Dark bill 
· Unfeathered red crown and lores 
· Entirely gray plumage, that often becomes stained with rust or brown, especially about the back and wings 
· Whitish cheeks and chin 
Juvenile: 
· Feathered crown 
· Gray-brown plumage mottled with cinnamon 
Similar species: 
All herons tuck their necks in an "S" curve while flying and lack the long, fluffy tertials and red crown. The very rare Whooping Crane is white overall with black primaries and a different head pattern.

 


Whooping crane Grus americana 
Identification :
· Length: 45 inches Wingspan: 90 inches 
· Very large, long-legged, long-necked bird 
· Long, pointed bill 
· Holds neck straight both at rest and in flight, not tucking it in like herons do 
· Dark legs extended in flight 
· Long, fluffy tertials droop down over tail and primaries 
· Black primaries 
· Rare and local-breeds in NW Canada and winters in coastal Texas, reintroductions attempted in NW United States and Florida 
Adult: 
· Red crown 
· Black at base of bill extending onto cheek 
· Entirely white plumage 

Juvenile: 
· White body with scattered brown feathers 
· Pale brown head and neck 
Similar species: 
With its huge size and white plumage, the Whooping Crane is unmistakable at close range. In flight, similarly white egrets tuck their necks in an "S" curve while flying and lack the black primaries. Sand hill Crane is similar in shape but is gray overall. 

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles Alchata)

The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is typically a bird of open treeless plains. It is about 30 cm.long with sharpened central pens of the tail, white belly, inferior part of the white wing with black end Male: in summer, superficially brown grayish, speckled of yellow; black chin and throat, wrap pectoral chestnut Female: In winter, both have similarities and more extinguished colors.

Female nests in the ground, in a small depression that very rarely fills up with pieces of wood, in semi desert plains, stony zones, beaches and salt marshes,Putting, between April and June, of 2 to 3 sandy eggs brown with reddish spots and dark ash-gray

Incubation: By both parents, of about 21 days.
The chickens leave the nest soon after being born.
The mother brings the water to them in the soaked pens of the chest.

Feeding:
Seeds, some stems and rare time insects. It drinks regularly, especially during hot days. They form a cyclone shape, birds at the bottom drink first

Habitat:

Uncultivated scrubs and grain fields.
Other sub speices are the black bellied sandgrouse (petrocles orientalis) and the spotted sandgrouse ( pterocles senegallus).