Fjellvaktel

Fjellvaktel, or rock partridge (Alectoris graeca), is a medium-sized ground-dwelling bird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae). It belongs to the genus Alectoris, a group of partridges adapted to rugged, rocky habitats across southern Europe and parts of Asia Minor. The species is sedentary and often forms small coveys outside the breeding season. Despite the common name, it is not a true quail.

It has a compact body, short tail, and strong legs. Plumage is cryptic, typically brown, grey, and white, providing camouflage on stony slopes. Many subspecies show distinct facial markings, and wing patterns are adapted for short, rapid flight.

Its range includes the Balkans, Greece, Albania, Turkey, and the Caucasus, as well as some Mediterranean islands and adjacent regions. It tends to inhabit open, stony slopes with scrub and sparse vegetation, at elevations from about 800 to 2,800 meters depending on the local subspecies.

It is a ground-dwelling forager that feeds on seeds, buds, shoots, fruits, and sometimes invertebrates. Outside the breeding season, it forms coveys. During courtship, males perform display flights and calls to attract females. Nests are built on the ground, with clutches of 4–9 eggs; incubation lasts roughly 21–28 days, and the chicks are precocial.

The fjellvaktel faces habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and predation by introduced species in parts of its range. In many areas, protected status and hunting regulations help conserve populations, but climate change and human disturbance continue to affect alpine and subalpine habitats.