Lead exposition by gunshot ingestion in red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa).

Abstract

Absorption of low concentrations of lead may result in a wide range of sublethal effects in birds. Although waterfowl appear the most severely affected group for this heavy metal, leadpoisoning-mortality has been observed in a wide variety of bird species, ie raptors and upland game birds. In this present work, hepatic lead levels in different red-legged partridges are presented to indicate threshold values which could help in future toxicological studies when considering the lack of information about lead poisoning of such birds in the wild.