They're both in the same family of game birds. French / Red-legged is a slightly larger bird, and the feather used here is a more striking flank feather than what you'd find on a grey partridge 👍
@garrickeckardflytying thanks Garrick. In my youth they were all Grey Partridges and Red Legs were interlopers. I have a grey partridge skin and feel guilty for not using it enough.
Not a problem at all. I think red-legged are now more prominent than the indigenous grey partridge. Nothing wrong with subbing grey for the head hackle, especially dyed golden olive for these style of mayfly patterns. Gosling with dyed golden olive flanks from a grey partridge is a lovely variant.
