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Covering almost 260 species of gamebirds, this book focuses on identification, status and distribution, habitats and geographical variation. Many of these species are both exotic and endangered, some are kept in private aviaries, while others are exploited commercially.

1. Due to reductions in winter food resources, newly sown cereal seeds have become a key component of many bird species' diets, but these seeds are often treated with pesticides that may cause toxic effects. To complete an appropriate risk assessment, data on treated seed toxicity need to be combined with information about the risk of exposure of birds in the field and the factors that modulate such exposure. 2. We studied the abundance of pesticide-treated seeds available for birds in the field, the pesticides and their concentrations in treated seeds, and the bird species observed in the field that were feeding on these pesticide-treated seeds. The exposure of red-legged partridge to treated winter cereal seeds was characterized through the analysis of crop and gizzard contents of hunted individuals (n = 189). Moreover, we measured the contribution of cereal seeds in the autumn-winter diet of partridges in order to assess the potential risk of exposure to pesticide-treated seeds. 3. Density of treated seeds on the soil surface after sowing (11·3 ± 1·2 seeds m⁻² in the centre of field and 43·4 ± 5·5 seeds m⁻² in the headlands) was enough to provide, in an area between 6 and 50 m², doses of six active ingredients above those indicating acute (i.e. a dose capable of killing 50% of individuals of a sensitive species) and / or chronic (no observed effect level) toxicity. 4. Up to 30 bird species were observed consuming treated cereal seeds in recently sown fields. Corn bunting was identified as an appropriate focal passerine species for the risk assessment of pesticide-treated seeds. 5. We found that treated seeds were an important route of pesticide ingestion for red-legged partridge; pesticide residues (six fungicides and two insecticides) were found in 32·3% of crops and gizzards. Cereal seeds represented more than half (53·4 ± 4·3%) of total biomass consumed by partridges from October to February. 6. Synthesis and applications. The field exposure data combined with previous studies about the toxicity to partridges of using pesticide-treated seeds point to an unacceptable risk of this practice to farmland birds. Our results suggest that the prophylactic use of pesticide-coated seeds should be avoided, with the approval of this treatment considered on a case-by-case basis and accompanied with specific measures to minimize risks of adverse effects on avian communities.

The release of more than 40 million captive‐bred pheasants and red‐legged partridges in Britain annually represents a significant addition to the potential food resource base for predators and scavengers. If this extra food availability subsidizes predator populations, gamebird releases could increase predation pressure on other wild birds, affecting their populations. Using three extensive datasets, we examined the spatial relationships between reared and free‐roaming gamebirds (pheasant Phasianus colchicus and red‐legged partridge Alectoris rufa), and explored spatial and temporal associations between these gamebirds and five species of avian predator (buzzard Buteo buteo, jay Garrulus glandarius, raven Corvus corax, magpie Pica pica and hooded Corvus cornix and carrion Corvus corone crows combined) in lowland rural Britain. Patterns of spatial variation in the abundance of free‐roaming gamebirds across Britain appear to be largely determined by gamebird releases, over and above any effects of land use or habitat. Predominantly positive associations between gamebird abundance (both reared and free‐roaming) and the abundance and inter‐annual population growth rates of predators tested suggest that large‐scale variation in avian predator populations may be positively affected by gamebird releases. Synthesis and applications. The positive associations between large‐scale gamebird release and predator populations shown here may have implications for prey populations if the releases cause increased predation pressure. If this occurs, game management could have an indirect negative impact on some prey species partially counteracting previously reported positive or benign effects of game management on wider biodiversity. Overall impacts of gamebird releases are likely to be determined by complex interactions between multiple factors, including induced predation pressure, better understanding of which would be possible with compulsory recording of releases and numbers of predators killed. Restriction of releases warrants further investigation and consideration as a potential conservation tool for wild bird populations. The positive associations between large‐scale gamebird release and predator populations shown here may have implications for prey populations if the releases cause increased predation pressure. If this occurs, game management could have an indirect negative impact on some prey species partially counteracting previously reported positive or benign effects of game management on wider biodiversity. Overall impacts of gamebird releases are likely to be determined by complex interactions between multiple factors, including induced predation pressure, better understanding of which would be possible with compulsory recording of releases and numbers of predators killed. Restriction of releases warrants further investigation and consideration as a potential conservation tool for wild bird populations.

Long-term serologic surveillance of red-legged partridges suggests emergence of Bagaza virus in Portugal in 2021, associated with disease outbreaks in this species. Results also reveal sporadic circulation of Usutu virus and endemic circulation of West Nile virus, highlighting the role of red-legged partridges in the transmission and maintenance cycle and as sentinels of orthoflaviviruses.

Abstract There is growing evidence that the Earth's climate is undergoing profound changes that are affecting biodiversity worldwide. This gives rise to the pressing need to develop robust predictions on how species will respond in order to inform conservation strategies and allow managers to adapt mitigation measures accordingly. While predictions have begun to emerge on how species at the extremes of the so‐called slow‐fast continuum might respond to climate change, empirical studies for species for which all demographic traits contribute relatively equally to population dynamics are lacking. Yet, climate change is expected to strongly affect them throughout their entire lifecycle. We built a 21‐year integrated population model to characterize the population dynamics of the rock partridge ( Alectoris graeca ) in France, and tested the influence of nine weather covariates on demographic parameters. As predicted, both annual survival and breeding success were affected by weather covariates. Thick snow cover during winter was associated with low survival and small brood size the following breeding season. Brood size was higher with intermediate winter temperatures and snowmelt timing, positively correlated to breeding period temperature, but negatively correlated to temperature during the coldest fortnight and precipitation during the breeding period. Survival was positively correlated to winter temperature, but negatively to breeding period precipitation. Large‐scale indices indicated that cold and wet winters were associated with small brood size the following breeding season but with high survival. Expected changes of weather conditions due to climate change are likely to impact demographic traits of the rock partridge both positively and negatively depending on the traits and on the affected weather variables. Future population dynamics will thus depend on the magnitude of these different impacts. Our study illustrates the difficulty to make strong predictions about how species with a population dynamic influenced by both survival and fecundity will respond to climate change.

Context Agricultural landscapes across Europe have undergone significant transformation due to intensification and land-use changes, resulting in habitat loss and reduced biodiversity. Simultaneously, climate change has intensified extreme weather events, further exacerbating the decline of sensitive farmland species. Objectives We assessed the effects of habitat composition, weather conditions and their interaction, on the reproductive success of the grey partridge (Perdix perdix ). We aimed to identify factors that hinder successful reproduction and are important for conservation considerations. Our model species is a widespread farmland bird that is particularly sensitive to habitat change and weather. Methods Using open-source data spanning 13 years (2011–2023) across the Czech Republic, a central European country with a highly intensified farmland, we applied generalized linear mixed models to assess the influence of habitat and weather conditions on partridge reproductive success at a landscape scale. Results Mosaics of herb-dominated vegetation, including grasslands and unmanaged wastelands near human settlements, significantly increased the probability of successful breeding of partridges. Conversely, diversity of broad land-use types reduced breeding success. Adverse weather, such as heavy rainfall in May, was also detrimental to the species’ reproduction, however, positive interaction of habitat diversity and rainfall in May suggest their synergistic effect. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of habitat and weather considerations in conservation strategies for farmland birds. As ongoing climate change is likely to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, improving habitat quality by supporting herbaceous vegetation and promoting agri-environmental measures more widely are essential for the conservation of grey partridges and other sensitive species.

Field isolates of coccidia from 20 natural outbreaks in the chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) were received from gamebird farms in 10 US states. These were propagated in the laboratory and identified by microscopy and PCR. Of 20 samples, 18 were Eimeria kofoidi, 2 were Eimeria legionensis only, and 1 was a mixture of the 2 species. One isolate of E kofoidi also contained an unidentified species detected only by PCR, nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. The efficacy of anticoccidial drugs against chukar coccidia was tested with experimental infections in battery cages. Isolates of E kofoidi were used to infect 2-week-old chukars. Anticoccidial products were given in the feed at levels approved for other poultry or for chukars. Tests were terminated at 6 days postinoculation with measurement of weight gains, fecal diarrhea scores, and necropsy to observe for lesion severity. Lasalocid (120 ppm) was moderately effective in one test. When tested against four field isolates, other ionophores (monensin, salinomycin, semduramicin) showed moderate effectiveness in reducing lesions and improving weight gains. Rofenaid (a potentiated sulfa mixture), robenidine (30 ppm), diclazuril (2 ppm), and decoquinate (80 ppm) were highly effective. In a test of 9 products against a highly virulent field isolate, only diclazuril (2 ppm) and clopidol (125 ppm) reduced the severity of lesions and improved weight gain relative to infected controls, suggesting the extent to which previous drug usage had selected for drug resistance.

A basic rule to attain sustainable use of harvested resources is to adjust take to availability. Populations of red-legged partridges in Spain have decreased in recent decades, and releases of farm-bred partridges to improve short-term availability are increasingly common. We used questionnaires and bird surveys to assess whether harvest was related to availability of wild partridges or intensity of farm-bred partridge releases. We studied 50 hunting estates, including 6 administratively labeled as intensive (with few numerical and temporal restrictions to releases). In addition, we considered hunting pressure (number of hunters × hunting days/km 2 ) and habitat as explanatory variables in the analyses. In intensive estates, annual harvest was exclusively related to release intensity, indicating that in these estates hunting is detached from natural resources and approaches an industrial activity based on external inputs. In non-intensive estates, harvest was affected by wild stock availability, walked-up shooting pressure, and habitat (greater harvest in estates with more Mediterranean shrubland). In these estates, releases did not increase annual harvest, and can be considered an inefficient practice. Additionally, the relationship between abundance estimates and harvest disappeared in estates with low partridge abundance estimates, suggesting possibilities for overharvesting in a large proportion of estates. Increasing the abundance of wild red-legged partridge through techniques like habitat management, and improving the adjustment of harvest to availability, may be a good strategy to increase long-term harvest in non-intensive estates. Additionally, Government and managers must create ways to segregate and label the estates where only wild red-legged partridges are managed from those where releases are used, to reduce ecological costs of management decisions.