![\"gray](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/gray-partridge-8057-ron-dudley.jpg\")
\nI believe this one to be a juvenile due to its significantly smaller size and lack of rufous color on its flanks, wings and tail.<\/p>\n
In approximately 25 trips to the Centennial Valley in the past six years I’d never seen Gray Partridges but I found these two birds there two days ago near Lima Reservoir.<\/p>\n
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\nI believe this one to be a juvenile due to its significantly smaller size and lack of rufous color on its flanks, wings and tail.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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![\"gray](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/gray-partridge-8065-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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This was the adult, standing right next to the younger bird.<\/p>\n
I’m used to seeing these birds on the family farm, also in Montana, but that’s 300 miles north of here.\u00a0Sibley lists Gray Partridges as “uncommon” and the Red Rock Lakes NWR bird guide lists them as “occasional” (the refuge is in the Centennial Valley).<\/p>\n
Largely because of the unattractive setting (a gravel road) these aren’t great images but as documentation I’m delighted to have them. Perhaps I’m more of a birder than I think I am.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In approximately 25 trips to the Centennial Valley in the past six years I’d never seen Gray Partridges but I found these two birds there two days ago near Lima Reservoir.<\/p>\n