This species mainly inhabits the areas of conifers and mountain pastures: open terrain or with sparse trees, in dry, sunny areas. Its nest is usually situated in hollows in the ground, sheltered by shrubs, tufts of grass or stones.
It has a wingspan of 50 cm, the livery is, in both sexes, greyish-brown with a white neck, with white flanks with a black stripe, and red legs. It eats berries, shoots and seeds.
The rock partridge is found in every valley, from 1200 m up to 2950 m. As with other species of birds, its area of distribution is undergoing a widespread reduction. This can be put down to the modification of its natural habitat following the abandonment of the area by humans.