what is a partridge

A partridge is a medium-sized ground-dwelling bird that belongs to the family Phasianidae. They are generally intermediate in size between larger pheasants and smaller quail, with variable plumage coloration across species, with most tending to grey and brown. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and some species have been introduced to the Americas. They prefer nesting on the ground and have a diet consisting of seeds and insects. Partridges are game birds and are often hunted for food or used as a target for practicing shooting. The most famous reference to the partridge is in the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".