Montuiri's partridge fair. | MARTINA POQUET
Christmas is coming, but the partridge isn't in a pear tree.
It's in a cage, it's male and it's singing to attract its mate. This is the Montuiri partridge decoy contest for a fair that was revived in the early 1980s.
Out in the countryside, the male partridge is put in a cage and placed in a prominent location sometimes with the assistance of a stand (or pulpit). The female, attracted by the male's call, will come close - close enough to be in hunter's range; no mating for this particular couple.
This is simulated for the decoy contest. Various males are arranged in their cages, and the contest is essentially one to decide the best male when it comes to attracting females.
Other than the partridges, the fair will highlight local gastronomy and products, with the culmination being a concert by a Brazilian music trio.