Partridge Gray basic information

At maturity, Gray Partridges measure between 12 and 14 inches (30 to 35 centimeters) in length. They are round in shape with short tails. As their name would indicate, Gray Partridges are mainly gray, although their faces have rusty coloration and they have chestnut brown banding over their sides. The plumage is not uniformly colored; rather, it has many markings and variations of well-defined black, brown, or gray. The tails and lower backsides are reddish in color. Male Gray Partridges can be identified by the dark splotch on their bellies that forms a horseshoe shape. The crowns of Gray Partridges also demonstrate the sexual dimorphism of the species. In females, these areas are dark brown. Males have ash colored or light bluish crowns. Females' crowns are decorated with light tan teardrop shapes, while males have light, straw to buff colored pinstripes that become more pronounced near the napes of their necks.