Is this a chukar (1 Viewer)

[Chrisshell]

Hi all my daughter took this picture this morning in the godalming Surrey area and we would like to confirm what she saw

 

[moose1991]

Red legged partridge

 

[mummymonkey]

Disappointing lack of pear tree there.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Not a definitive answer, but one to alert others:
this bird seems to lack a brownish tinge to the neck/back and the spotted neckband does not reaches down to the breast (variable and dependent on posture) and consists of not enough black spots for a pure Red legged Partridge.
This can be explained by low picture quality (looks like a picture from a mobile phone with much sharpening/jpeg artefacts?), but:
It looks like a RLP x Chukar hybrid which occur in Britain.

 

[Nutcracker]

Ditto to Red-legged Partridge. Note that the black band below the white throat has a necklace of black spots below it; Chukar doesn't have those black spots. You also don't get Chukars in Britain (it's actually illegal for gamekeepers to release them).

PS Welcome to Birdforum!

 

[Nutcracker]

..., but:
It looks like a RLP x Chukar hybrid which occur in Britain.

It won't be, unless a gamekeeper has been breaking the law (which, I'll grant you, is quite possible . . . gamekeepers don't exactly have the best of reputations when it comes to complying with the law!)

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thanks Nutcracker, I must admit my information is outdated. I remember considering hybrids when I visited Britain in 1993 but I hope for more comments like yours with more information.
I am not an expert in variation of RLP, as I dont looked closely when I saw them. But as I cant remember seeing a RLP with such an less black spotted breast band before, I wrote my comment.

And sorry: forgot the most important thing: welcome to birdforum!

 

[Nutcracker]

Thanks Nutcracker, I must admit my information is outdated. I remember considering hybrids when I visited Britain in 1993 but I hope for more comments like yours with more information.
I am not an expert in variation of RLP, as I dont looked closely when I saw them. But as I cant remember seeing a RLP with such an less black spotted breast band before, I wrote my comment.

And sorry: forgot the most important thing: welcome to birdforum!

Not sure exactly when the law banning Chukar releases was brought in, but at a guess, pretty soon after your visit

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Spotting is a bit variable (and would´nt be all visible here) and other features seem all OK for Redlegged Partridge- given the quality of the photo (no offence meant) I´d agree this is a Redlegged partridge.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thank you Jörn and Nutcracker,
as I havent seen a RLP with such a necklace (pale grey, sullied whitish with just a few scattered black dots) before: is this within variation for this species? Or is the (only) reason for this picture, that details are lost to jpeg/picture artefacts coupled with low resoution?

 

[Nutcracker]

Thank you Jörn and Nutcracker,
as I havent seen a RLP with such a necklace (pale grey, sullied whitish with just a few scattered black dots) before: is this within variation for this species? Or is the (only) reason for this picture, that details are lost to jpeg/picture artefacts coupled with low resoution?

I reckon the latter - just 110 kb means very low quality.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Agree, mainly due to picture...

but generally individuals can look different in that respect. Years ago I worked in a vinyard in France and the resident pair were distinguishable from the spotting in the necklace. With these two it seems similar:

https://www.birdwords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Red-legged-Partridge-12-Alectoris-rufa.jpg

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thank you Nutcracker and Jörn,
helpful as allways!