Uncommon residents.

Red-Legged Partridges were introduced to Britain around 1770 by the Marquis of Hertford near Orford in Suffolk. By the last quarter of the nineteenth century following other introductions in Suffolk and Essex, they had spread throughout southeast England. The first record from Hertfordshire came from Little Almshoe near St. Ippollits in 1815. Although once common in the County there is now evidence to suggest they may be in decline.

The earliest record for Stevenage is from May 1891 when a nest with eggs was found on the ridge a straw stack at Aston.

The records from the 1960s and 1970s are: two pairs located at Aston End on 16 June 1963; six or seven at Box Wood on 30 January 1966; a pair at Box Wood on 8 April and 29 May 1966; five at Box Wood on 16 April 1967; Astonbury 3 March 1968; Holbrook Farm, Aston 31 March 1968; Fairlands Valley (occasionally seen 1969), Whomerley Wood (one in 1969); Fishers Green 1973; 10 by Watery Grove on 26 October 1973; a covey of 16 at an unrecorded location on 15 January 1974; eight by Symonds Green on 19 December 1974; two seen near Astonbury Wood and, two in the front drive of Astonbury Manor House on 10 April 1976; a pair and up to five birds Watery Grove spring 1977; breeding Astonbury 1977; a pair in fields adjoining Astonbury Wood in May 1978; an adult and 11 young seen on the drive of Astonbury Manor House on 2 July 1978 which took cover in a rose-bed; pair Watery Grove 1978; pair Box Wood 1979; covey of six Astonbury January 1979.

At Watery Grove one breeding territory was recorded by the Common Bird Census in 1977.

The records from the 1980s and 1990s are: pairs at Watery Grove and Box Wood 1981; coveys of 12 and 15 at Fishers Green on 4 December 1982; two at Box Wood on 24 April 1983; two at Norton Green Tip on 13 June 1983; Norton Green Tip 22 April 1990.

More recently the following large coveys have been seen: 17 near the River Beane at Aston End on 14 October 2010; 12 at Aston End on 15 October 2010; 13 at New Park Lane, Aston on 31 December 2010; 22 at Norton Green Tip on 23 October 2011; 12 at Watery Grove on 22 October 2013; 15 at Norton Green on 22 November 2015; 12 at New Park Lane, Aston on 26 September 2017; 12 at Lord’s Farm, Aston on 26 October 2018.

Confirmed as breeding from three of Stevenage’s tetrads by both the 1973 and 1992 Breeding Atlases, only probable breeding was considered by the 2012 Breeding Atlas from the tetrad covering Chesfield Park.

Successful breeding was recorded from Norton Green in 2020.

Their presence was confirmed in the tetrads covering Norton Green and Bragbury End by the 2012 Winter Atlas.

Red-legged Partridges can occur singly in unusual places, in the spring of 1972 one was encountered walking the wrong way around the roundabout by the Swimming Pool in heavy traffic, one was watched proceeding down Popple Way in March 1978 and, one was seen in a Fairview Road Garden on 1 July 2023.

The most recent local record is of two near Norton Green Tip on 16 October 2023.