Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus Scientific name definitions

28–30·5 cm; male 410–470 g, female 350–380 g. Typical, generally grey-brown, hill-partridge with distinctly patterned head and breast. Male has broad, rufous-chestnut breastband, narrow, white supercilium  meeting on forehead, reddish-brown crown streaked blackish, black lores and broad eyestripe, rufous-orange ear-coverts patch and black-streaked white throat  ; flanks blue-grey with white shaft streaks and chestnut feather fringes, belly whitish and ventral region buffy with black feather centres; mantle, back, rump and uppertail-coverts brownish grey, with narrow black fringes to feathers and broad chestnut fringes to scapulars; wings greyish to buffy brown, the tertials and wing-coverts prominently marked black and fringed rufous. Bare parts: bill blackish, irides brown, legs grey, and bare skin around eyes  dull red (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Distinguished from A. torqueola by mainly white throat and russet on breast; Bambusicola fytchii and B. thoracicus are larger, longer-tailed, have distinctly different head patterns and bold, dark breast-side and flank spotting. Female  marginally smaller and differs from male in having pale yellowish chin and throat, bordered below by grey-brown breastband, with grey flanks marked by weak, pale streaking (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile undescribed.

SC China (SC Sichuan, and perhaps also NE Yunnan).

Subtropical and temperate mixed evergreen broadleaf forest and woodland, including secondary and replanted areas > 15–20 years old, provided there are some large trees (2 Li, C., Hu, J. and Yu, Z.-W. (2003). Distribution and habitat selection of the Sichuan Hill-Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 38(6): 46-51. Close ), at altitudes between 1000 m and 2250 m (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), although it has been suggested to occur up to 3000 m (2 Li, C., Hu, J. and Yu, Z.-W. (2003). Distribution and habitat selection of the Sichuan Hill-Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 38(6): 46-51. Close ). Perhaps most frequent at 1400–1800 m (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ). Apparently absent from conifer plantations (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ). At Laojunshan Nature Reserve, Sichuan, evergreen broadleaf forest used by the species is characterized by trees such as Castanopsis delavayi, C. omeiensis, Davidia involucrata and Cylobabanopsis myrsinaefolia, while the well-developed shrub layer is dominated by Eurya loquiana, Alangium chinense, Rhododendron hunnewelliana and Camellia oleifera, and in places there is a dense understorey of bamboos, especially Chimonobambusa quadrangularis (6 Liao, W.B., Hu, J., Li, C. and Lu, X. (2008). Roosting behaviour of the endangered Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Bird Conservation International. 18(3): 260-266. Close ). Generally prefers areas with a denser shrub layer, greater tree and hence canopy cover (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ), deciduous leaf litter 5–10 cm deep and lower abundance of bamboo (thus more open understorey) (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ), usually on slopes of 5–15° gradient and near water sources (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ); in winter, they prefer south-facing slopes in forests with limited bamboo cover (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ), whereas during the breeding season birds seem to move upslope and away from trails (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ).

Few data available, but during winter (from mid Oct) birds form coveys of 4–6 birds that disband in late Mar and early Apr (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ). Territories are 1·5–2·6 ha in size (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ), whereas home ranges can be rather larger, up to c. 13 ha (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ).

Fruits of Eleaganus, Euonymus, Rubus and oaks reported; also some invertebrates. Appears to prefer to forage on ground in areas with substantial leaf litter, but males roost on elevated perches (typically c. 3 m above ground), with the female prior to her incubating, except after young hatch when male briefly joins female again and roosts with her on ground (see also Breeding) (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ). Foraging partridges create characteristic scrapes typically c. 2–5 m long, 1–3 m wide and 4·3–6·5 cm deep (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ).

Territorial call (often delivered as duet) given during breeding season (mid Mar–Jul) and then again in Aug–Oct (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), a drawn-out series of loud, ascending whistles, repeated regularly, and audible over 0·5 km (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ); also a more complex whistle (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ). Can be confused with calls of Spotted Laughingthrush (Garrulax ocellatus), which occurs in some of same forest areas (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), and also similar to call of A. gingica (no geographical overlap) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Calls most frequently during first four hours after dawn (c. 05:30 hours) and from c. 16:00 hours until just before dusk (c. 20:00 hours), more occasionally at other times of the day, but no records of nocturnal vocalizing (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ).

Season Apr–Jun, with eggs hatching occurring mid May to mid Jul (6 Liao, W.B., Hu, J., Li, C. and Lu, X. (2008). Roosting behaviour of the endangered Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Bird Conservation International. 18(3): 260-266. Close ). Nest is a scrape, usually among tree roots. Lays 3–7 eggs (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), incubated by female alone (7 Collar, N. J., A. V. Andreev, S. Chan, M. J. Crosby, S. Subramanya, and J. A. Tobias, Editors (2001). Threatened Birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. Close ). Post-hatching males accompany the female and young for only 1–2 weeks (6 Liao, W.B., Hu, J., Li, C. and Lu, X. (2008). Roosting behaviour of the endangered Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Bird Conservation International. 18(3): 260-266. Close ). Natural predators of adults include Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ). No further information available.

ENDANGERED. Mace Lande: Critical. One of the most threatened of all Galliformes: population estimated by BirdLife International at c. 1000–2499 mature individuals within an overall range calculated at 7700 km², and currently declining owing to hunting (using traps and snares) and small-scale habitat loss to agriculture, illegal logging, and disturbance from bamboo shoot and medicinal plant collectors (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), although still said to be locally common; in mid 1990s tentatively recorded from nine sites within overall area of 1793 km² (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ). Until recently unprotected within any conservation unit in its tiny range, which falls entirely within South China Forests Endemic Bird Area, which also hosts four other restricted-range bird species—Gold-fronted Fulvetta (Alcippe variegaticeps), Omei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis), Silver Oriole (Oriolus mellianus) and Emei Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus emeiensis); however, in 1998, Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve, was created, which protects an estimated 192 km² of potentially suitable habitat, while in 2000–2004 three further nature reserves were estabished in this region—Laojunshan (35 km²), Mamize (380 km²) and Heizhugou (> 60 km²)—all of which support the species, and the first-named was created specifically to protect A. rufipectus, although detailed surveys of the other two areas are still required (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ). Fieldwork in 1996–1997 reported densities of 0·48 ± 0·06 and 0·24 ± 0·16 calling birds per km², respectively (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), but subsequently reported from 16 sites in early 2000s (2 Li, C., Hu, J. and Yu, Z.-W. (2003). Distribution and habitat selection of the Sichuan Hill-Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 38(6): 46-51. Close ) and research in Laojunshan Nature Reserve recorded densities of 3·64–4·84 individuals per km², suggesting presence of > 100 pairs at this site alone (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ), and this population is apparently increasing (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ). In contrast, numbers at Huanglianshan have declined very markedly, with most of the site having been replanted with non-native conifers (5 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Garson, P.J. and He Fen-Qi (2009). Habitat utilisation by the threatened Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus: consequences for managing newly protected areas in southern China. Bird Conservation International. 19(2): 187-198. Close ). Logging was causing both loss and degradation of its habitat (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ), and artificial replanting, especially with monocultures, is reducing extent of suitable habitat available to species. In 1998, a government-imposed ban on logging in upper Yangtze Basin led to complete halt in deforestation throughout its range, and there is now a major forest plantation scheme that aims to re-forest ridges and steeper slopes (4 Liao, W.B., Fuller, R.A., Hu, J.C. and Li, C. (2008). Habitat use by endangered Sichuan Partridges Arborophila rufipectus during the breeding season. Acta Orn.. 43(2): 179-184. Close ); nevertheless, habitat is probably still declining, being either cleared for agriculture or illegally logged, albeit on small scale. Many people collect bamboo shoots, firewood and medicinal plants in spring and early autumn, creating substantial disturbance during breeding season, and additional disturbance is caused by livestock either grazing in, or moving through, forest (3 Dai Bo, Dowell, S.D., Martins, R.P. and Williams, R.S.R. (1998). Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China. Bird Conservation International. 8(4): 349-359. Close ). Hydroelectric schemes and resulting reservoirs in the valleys below its forest habitat cause indirect future threats as the people they displace move to higher locations in close proximity to remnant forest, putting it under increased pressure. Records from extreme NE Yunnan, made in 1997, not subsequently confirmed and might be considered doubtful (7 Collar, N. J., A. V. Andreev, S. Chan, M. J. Crosby, S. Subramanya, and J. A. Tobias, Editors (2001). Threatened Birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. Close ).