2003Fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Greek Partridge - Sheetlets

The Greek Partridge (Alectoris graeca) is a bird from the wild fowl family (galinacei) and lives in the mountains of Europe and Asia. It is beautifully built, with very harmonious colors that are adapted to the its karstic and rocky mountainous habitats. Dark gray and rust colored nuances predominate.The beak, undereye markings and stockings are markedly red. Between its head and neck it has a black ring. The Greek Partridge eats various insects, young grass, buds, young leaves, forest berries, grains and grass seeds. It lives in flocks of generally five to eight members. During the mating season, it lives in pairs.They multiply prolifically if the weather conditions are suitable and make their nests in concealed bushes.The female lays from ten to eighteen eggs, two to three times a year.After twenty-one days, the little partridges hatch.The partridge family lives together until the next mating season. Natural enemies include eagles, hawks, foxes, martens and wildcats. In the mountains of northern Herzegovina, Prenja, Čvrsnica, Vran, and Čabulja, it is possible to find flocks of partridges at 1,600 meters above sea level. Croatian Post Office d.o.o. Mostar has also issued a commemorative first-day cover and a maximum card.