Green-legged Partridge

The green-legged partridge is a compact ground bird about 27–30 cm long. It has an olive-brown crown and upperparts, a grey face and breast, warm buff underparts marked with dark scaling, and the greenish legs that give the species its English name. Sexes are similar, making voice, location and close plumage details useful in separating it from other forest partridges (Handbook of the Birds of the World, general species account).

Across mainland Southeast Asia it inhabits evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, bamboo and secondary growth, usually remaining under dense cover. Pairs or small parties walk quietly over the forest floor, scratching among fallen leaves for seeds, fruit and invertebrates; when disturbed they usually run before making a short explosive flight. The species is resident in Vietnam, but its secretive behaviour means it is detected more often by repeated whistled calls than by direct views (Handbook of the Birds of the World, general species account).