(Oreortyx pictus plumiferus)
The range of the plumed partridge is throughout the entire length of the
Sierra Nevadas and of the coast range south of San Francisco bay into
Lower California, where it intergrades with the San Pedro partridge,
but it does not cross the Colorado river and enter Arizona or the
mainland of Mexico. This species begins its migrations early in the
spring, keeping close to the snow line until they reach altitudes as
high as 7000 to 8000 feet, where they nest and rear their young. In the
fall, just before the winter rains begin, they commence their migrations
down again to the foothills, where they remain until the following
spring. Unless driven by unusually heavy snows, they rarely descend
lower than 2000 to 3000 feet above sea level.