
Brooding and rearing 
The young leave the nest as soon as the last bird is dry and 
may be attended by one or both parents. Avoiding dense ground cover, 
broods are often reared in and along the edges of cultivated fields, 
especially of carob bean, the leaves and seeds of which are favorite 
foods. Late in the summer and throughout the autumn several broods 
may join together to form large coveys moving as a‘unit. 
Gregariousness 
The covey is the normal pattern although groups of two or 
three birds may be found widely separated from it during the day. When 
flushed the individuals scatter widely but soon start calling and 
gathering together again. ‘In size, coveys vary from 15 to 70 or more | 
birds with flocks of mii to 300 rarely ee recorded even curing cold 
weather. 
In late winter the males are apt to gather in separate groups 
of 20 to 40 birds. The pina er due: name for eheee in Spain: is neokada 
de toros" or the herd of the bulls. . 
Psychology and behavior 
The red-legged partridge is not as nervous or as quarrelsome 
as the chukar but it is quicker in movement on the ground. Coveys are 
more inclined to scatter when disturbed and to run rather than to seek 
safety in flight. Not infrequently they perch on rocks, fences, build- 
ings, and low trees, sometimes even among the foliage. 
In captivity there are always dominant, troublesome males, 
especially at the approach of the breeding season, but instances of 
severe headpicking, scalping, or killing of one male by another are 
rare. They get along surprisingly well even when closely penned with 
other equally tolerant game birds such as Hungarian partridges. 
Calls 
Most of the calls are rather similar to those of the chukar. 
The display note of the male is a remarkable sound which has been ren- 
dered as a deliberate, harsh "chucka, chucka" or chuk-er-ra-kar, chik 
chikar" closely resembling the chukar rallying calls. Or as "wa-shack- 
shack, wa-shack-shack-" it is suggestive of a laboring steam engine (2). 
The female notes may be the same but softer. When a bird 
takes flight a sharp "kuk-kuk" or "kerk-kerk" is not unusual. 
In close captivity the birds, when in good condition, often 
become inveterate "talkers". Groups, penned together in separate 
“18 
