Partridge in a Pear Tree?

The partridge in the pear tree was probably a Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa), a French species that often perches in trees, rather than the Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) native to Britain, which perches infrequently.

Here in North America we have none of the former, but the latter can be found across much of the central part of the continent. In winter they frequent open areas such as agricultural fields, often in small flocks, where they feed on waste grain and other seeds.

The Gray Partridge is one of only two species of partridge occurring widely in North America, and both are introduced (the other is the Chukar).

photo by David Mitchell (David A Mitchell) on Flickr; CC

(via: Peterson Field Guides)