. . . And a Partridge in the Library!

They aren't in a pear tree, they're in our library! This month, visit our reading room to see Audubon's Californian Partridge on display (plate 413). The print shows the male and female partridge together in a landscape scene that we can guess is California, given their name.

The Californian Partridge is one of many types of partridges, and while it isn't definitively known which specific partridge is referenced in the "Twelve Days or Christmas," it likely isn't the California Partridge since the carol was written in England in the 1780s. Nonetheless, we wanted to share this print since the male partridge looks so festive, with his plume and colorful feathers. You can read more about the California Partridge in the Birds of America Field Guide.

Stop by the library from December 10 through January 8 to see the partridges on display. For the past few Decembers, we've displayed other birds featured in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" and you can read about them here: Blackbirds (a.k.a. colly birds, or "calling birds") and Turtle Doves.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian