Winter and Spring Habitat Use by Gray Partridge in New York

Abstract

We compared winter and spring habitat use and home ranges of radio-tagged gray partridge (Perdix perdix) in established (1982) and translocated (1982 and 1983) populations in New York. Both populations selected grain stubble during winter and spring. Birds in the established range also used farmsteads in winter. By late spring, both populations selected idle uplands, and partridge in the translocated range also used legume hay. Home ranges were variable (x=82-672 ha), and did not differ by season (P>0.05). We suggest that a lack of preferred grain stubble in winter may limit populations in the established range. Populations in the translocated range may be limited by the availability of nesting cover