![\"gray](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/gray-partridge-3254b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIt’s the time of year when I begin daydreaming about trips to Montana and many of the birds I photograph in that state, Gray Partridges among them.<\/p>\n
I often see this species on the Montana farm where I grew up – locals call them Hungarian Partridges or “Huns” for short. They’re social birds that are mostly found in coveys and when I would unexpectedly find a group of these birds in the grasses or fields\u00a0and they flushed in front of me\u00a0their loud, explosive take-offs would really make my heart skip a beat.\u00a0They have a high mortality rate, short lifespan and high reproductive potential. They produce among the largest single hen clutches of all birds – up to 22 eggs, averaging 16 to 18.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a01\/1250, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n They’re not found\u00a0in most of Utah so I photograph them in Montana at every opportunity – these images were taken\u00a0on the farm\u00a0in August of 2012.\u00a0 Juveniles like this young bird lack most of the conspicuous plumage patterns and colors of the adults. When young they have a gray or brown spot behind the eye that turns…<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/1600, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n bright red as adults and much of the body of mature birds has conspicuous rufous-cinnamon coloration.<\/p>\n It seems that these birds are usually running whenever I see them out in the open so they’re difficult subjects for the photographer.\u00a0This\u00a0one was really scooting along and I’m surprised it’s as sharp as it is. The scurrying bird disturbed a flying insect above its tail that I could have easily removed but it was natural and it doesn’t bother me so I left it in the image.<\/p>\n This old photographer’s 50th high school reunion is this summer in Cut Bank, Montana and that’s a\u00a0get-together that I hope not to miss.\u00a0That trip, if it happens, will likely be my next opportunity with this species.<\/p>\n I actually have hopes of\u00a0photographing \u00a0one of these buzz-bombs in flight\u00a0– how’s that for setting almost impossible goals?<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s the time of year when I begin daydreaming about trips to Montana and many of the birds I photograph in that state, Gray Partridges among them.<\/p>\n![\"gray](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/gray-partridge-3273-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n