Perdicinae is a polyphyletic former subfamily of birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae, regrouping the partridges, Old World quails, and francolins.[1] Although this subfamily was considered monophyletic and separated from the pheasants, tragopans, junglefowls, and peafowls (Phasianinae) till the early 1990s,[1][2] molecular phylogenies have shown that these two subfamilies actually constitute only one lineage. For example, some partridges (Perdix genus) are more closely affiliated to pheasants, whereas Old World quails and partridges from the Alectoris genus are closer to junglefowls.[3][4] Due to this, the subfamily Perdicinae is no longer recognized by the International Ornithological Congress, with the species being split among 3 subfamilies.[5]
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Perdicinae is a non-migratory Old World group. These are medium-sized birds, and are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. They are ground-nesting seed-eaters. The subfamily includes the partridges, the snowcocks, the francolins, the spurfowl and the Old World quail.
- Alectoris
- Ammoperdix
- Arborophila, the hill partridges
- Hill partridge, Arborophila torqueola
- Sichuan partridge, Arborophila rufipectus
- Chestnut-breasted partridge, Arborophila mandellii
- White-necklaced partridge, Arborophila gingica
- Rufous-throated partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
- White-cheeked partridge, Arborophila atrogularis
- Taiwan partridge, Arborophila crudigularis
- Hainan partridge, Arborophila ardens
- Chestnut-bellied partridge, Arborophila javanica
- Grey-breasted partridge, Arborophila orientalis
- Bar-backed partridge, Arborophila brunneopectus
- Orange-necked partridge, Arborophila davidi
- Chestnut-headed partridge, Arborophila cambodiana
- Red-breasted partridge, Arborophila hyperythra
- Red-billed partridge, Arborophila rubrirostris
- Sumatran partridge, Arborophila sumatrana
- Roll's partridge, Arborophila rolli
- Malayan partridge, Arborophila campbelli
- Vietnam partridge, Arborophila merlini
- Bambusicola
- Caloperdix
- Campocolinus
- Coturnix
- Francolinus
- Galloperdix
- Haematortyx
- Lerwa
- Margaroperdix
- Melanoperdix
- Ophrysia
- Ortygornis
- Peliperdix
- Perdicula
- Perdix
- Rhizothera
- Pternistis
- Hartlaub's spurfowl, Pternistis hartlaubi
- Mount Cameroon spurfowl, Pternistis camerunensis
- Handsome spurfowl, Pternistis nobilis
- Swierstra's spurfowl, Pternistis swierstrai
- Erckel's spurfowl, Pternistis erckelii
- Djibouti spurfowl, Pternistis ochropectus
- Chestnut-naped spurfowl, Pternistis castaneicollis
- Black-fronted spurfowl, Pternistis atrifrons
- Jackson's spurfowl, Pternistis jacksoni
- Scaly spurfowl, Pternistis squamatus
- Ahanta spurfowl, Pternistis ahantensis
- Grey-striped spurfowl, Pternistis griseostriatus
- Hildebrandt's spurfowl, Pternistis hildebrandti
- Natal spurfowl, Pternistis natalensis
- Red-billed spurfowl, Pternistis adspersus
- Cape spurfowl, Pternistis capensis
- Heuglin's spurfowl, Pternistis icterorhynchus
- Double-spurred spurfowl, Pternistis bicalcaratus
- Harwood's spurfowl, Pternistis harwoodi
- Clapperton's spurfowl, Pternistis clappertoni
- Yellow-necked spurfowl, Pternistis leucoscepus
- Swainson's spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii
- Grey-breasted spurfowl, Pternistis rufopictus
- Red-necked spurfowl, Pternistis afer
- Rollulus
- Scleroptila
- Synoicus
- Tetraogallus
- Tetraophasis
- Tropicoperdix'
- Xenoperdix
Johnsgard, P. A. (1988). The Quails, Partridges, and Francolins of the World. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Johnsgard, P. A. (1986). The Pheasants of the World. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Kimball, R. T.; Braun, E. L.; Zwartjes, P. W.; Crowe, T. M.; Ligon, J. D. (1999). "A molecular phylogeny of the pheasants and partridges suggests that these lineages are not monophyletic". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 11 (1): 38–54. doi:10.1006/mpev.1998.0562. PMID 10082609.