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This is strictly a ground bird, never likely to be found in pear trees!

British Birds - Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges and Quail

Meet Britain’s gamebirds, from pheasants and partridges to grouse and quail. Learn how they live on farms, moors and woodland edges, and how to recognise them.

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Fascinating Fact:

Black grouse males gather at traditional display sites called leks, where they fan their tails and compete for females.

In Specialist Nature, this quiz focuses on British gamebirds, mostly ground-feeding birds that rely on cover, quick take-offs and camouflage. You will explore habitats, diets, nesting, and the clues that help you tell similar-looking species apart, such as shape, markings, calls and behaviour.

Key Terms

Gamebird: A bird traditionally hunted for sport or food, often ground-nesting and built for fast, short flights.
Moorland: Open upland habitat with heather and grasses, important for several UK grouse species.
Plumage: A bird’s feathers, including their colours and patterns, which can help with camouflage and identification.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between a pheasant and a partridge?

Pheasants are usually larger with longer tails, and males can be very colourful. Partridges are smaller, rounder, and often have shorter tails and more subtle markings that help them blend into fields.

Where do grouse live in the UK?

Grouse are strongly linked to upland and northern habitats. Many live on heather moorland, while some, like black grouse, can also use woodland edges and rough farmland where there is plenty of cover.

Why are pheasants and grouse called gamebirds?

They are called gamebirds because people have traditionally hunted them as “game”. Today, they are also studied for their habitats and breeding, and they can be useful indicators of how healthy the countryside is.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Lostajy

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Red Grouse

Common Quail

Western Capercaillie

Group: Grouse
Binomial: Lagopus lagopus
Order: Anatidae
Family: Tetraonidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
They were the subject of some of the earliest studies of population biology in birds.
It is widely known as the logo of a Scottish whisky and an animated bird is a character in a series of its adverts.

2 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Perdix perdix
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Resident Breeder And Introduction
A medium-sized, plump gamebird.
Flies with whirring wings and occasional glides, showing a chestnut tail.
It is strictly a ground bird, never likely to be found in pear trees!

3 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Grey Partridge

Red Grouse

Common Pheasant

Golden Pheasant

Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Phasianus colchicus
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Resident Introduced Population
The bird was naturalized in Great Britain around the 10th century AD.
Around 30 million birds are released each year on shooting estates.
Usually seen in the open countryside near woodland edges and copses.

4 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Golden Pheasant

Common Pheasant

Red Grouse

Common Quail

Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Coturnix coturnix
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
Rarely seen it is more usually heard giving its distinctive 'wet-my lips' call.
It is the UK's only migrant gamebird, reaching the northern fringes of its breeding range here.
Eats seeds and insects.

5 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Ptarmigan

Red-legged Partridge

Group: Grouse
Binomial: Lagopus muta
Order: Anatidae
Family: Tetraonidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
In summer, is a mixture of grey, brown and black above with white belly and wings.
In winter, it becomes totally white except for its tail and eye-patch, which remain black.

6 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Western Capercaillie

Ptarmigan

Lady Amherst's Pheasant

Red-legged Partridge

Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Chrysolophus amherstiae
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Resident Introduced Population
These are native to south western China and Myanmar, but have been introduced in England and have established a self-supporting, but now declining, feral population in Bedfordshire.

7 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Golden Pheasant

Group: Grouse
Binomial: Tetrao tetrix
Order: Anatidae
Family: Tetraonidae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
They have a very distinctive and well recorded courtship ritual. At dawn in the spring, the males strut around in a traditional area and display whilst making a highly distinctive mating call.
This process is called a lek.

8 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Black Grouse

Western Capercaillie

Group: Grouse
Binomial: Tetrao urogallus
Order: Anatidae
Family: Tetraonidae
Status: Resident Reintroduced Population
This species' name is derived from Gaelic meaning 'horse of the woods'.
Their toe rows of small, elongated horn tacks provide a snowshoe effect.
They make clear tracks in the snow.

9 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Grey Partridge

Red Grouse

Red-legged Partridge

Golden Pheasant

Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Alectoris rufa
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Resident Introduced Population
It is an introduced species, brought to the UK from continental Europe, where it is largely found in France and Spain.
Usually seen in groups in open fields.
When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly.

10 .

What is the name of this bird?

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Common Pheasant

Lady Amherst's Pheasant

Western Capercaillie

Golden Pheasant

Group: Pheasants, Partridges and Quail
Binomial: Chrysolophus pictus
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Status: Resident Introduced Population
The male is very brightly coloured with a yellow crown, red underparts and long finely barred tail.
It is a shy bird, keeping to dark, dense woodland.
Roosts in trees at night.