Buff-throated Monal-Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii Scientific name definitions

29–50 cm (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ); two males 1020 g and 1500 g, one female 880 g, overall range 660–1790 g (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ). Present species and <em>T. obscurus</em> are amongst the most pheasant-like perdicines, with long white-tipped (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) tails (of 18 feathers) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) that can be partially erected and spread when the birds are alarmed. Differs from <em>T. obscurus</em> by having chin, throat and foreneck pale fawn, rather than dark chestnut; has greyer rump and uppertail-coverts (contrasting with browner mantle) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and chestnut spots on underparts . Female similar to male, but slightly smaller and lacks spurs (male has one) (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Iris chestnut-brown, bill dusky brown to blackish, facial skin red and legs reddish brown (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile heavily barred black and brown on upperparts, with prominent whitish shaft-streaks especially on underparts (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

E Himalayas from SE Tibet to S Qinghai, W Sichuan and NW Yunnan (SC China) and extreme NE India (Arunachal Pradesh); single specimen from Quilian Mts, in Gansu (C China).

Fir (Abies squamata and Larix mastersiana) and oak (Quercus aquifolioides) (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ) forests, rhododendron scrub (e.g. Rhododendron nitidulum) (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ) and rocky gullies with cover in alpine zone; mostly in forest, but also occurs above treeline in rocky alpine zone; however, all territories at study site in Pamuling Mts contained some treeline habitats (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ) and in Yajiang County, Sichuan, abundance was substantially higher in rhododendron shrubs, fir-larch forests, mixed spruce-larch-birch forests, and especially oak thickets, rather than in pine forests (6 Xu, Y., Wang, B., Dou, L., Yue, H., Yang, N., Yang, L., Liu, S. and Ran, J. (2016). Estimating density of a rare and cryptic high-mountain Galliform species, the Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii. Avian Conserv. & Ecol.. 11(1): 10. Close ). Between 3300 m and c. 4800 m (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), often above 3700 m, and more exceptionally to 5500 m (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Family groups roost in same tree (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ).

Territory size does not differ much between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, 8·6–13·5 ha when nesting to 11·4–16·9 in winter, with significant overlap between different territories especially in non-breeding period (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Territories occupied by family groups with helpers tend to overlap less with those of neighbouring groups compared to those occupied by pairs without helpers (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). No information on possible altitudinal migration. When flushed, flies downhill to cover.

Small roots, small bulbs, mosses, small fruits (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and green leaves; supplementary feeding at monasteries in SE Tibet includes rice and corn (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ).

Gives a loud, repeated, double- or triple-noted cackling call , interspersed by monosyllabic grating notes (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Copulation second half of Mar, egg-laying commences mid Mar to late May, and incubation early Apr to mid Jun (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Nests both in scrapes in soil, lined with leaves, sticks, and bark, usually at base of tree or shrub, or placed on trees (Abies, Quercus, Larix) at c. 2–12 m above ground, with 68% of nests in one study being sited in trees (7 Yang, N., Ran, J.-H., Zhang, K., Yue, B.-S. and Li, B.-J. (2009). Notes on the breeding habits of the Buff-throated Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 44(2): 48–51. (In Chinese with English summary.). Close ); tree-nests cup-shaped, of moss, lichen, and feathers, sometimes fragments of man-made cloth (8 Zhang, K., Yang, N., Xu, Y., Ran, J., Lloyd, H. and Yue, B. (2011). Nesting behavior of Szechenyi’s Monal-partridge in treeline habitats, Pamuling Mountains, China. Wilson J. Orn.. 123(1): 93–96. Close ). Cooperative breeder, usually (c. 65%) (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ) with non-breeders (up to three) (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ) within each family group acting as helpers in brooding, particularly vigilance and territory defence (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ), and feeding the young; entire group remains in close proximity to nest (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Helpers tend to be male and mean group size is 2·81 (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ). Single-brooded (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ). Female entirely responsible for incubating the eggs and never engage in territory defence (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ). Lays 2–5 eggs (7 Yang, N., Ran, J.-H., Zhang, K., Yue, B.-S. and Li, B.-J. (2009). Notes on the breeding habits of the Buff-throated Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 44(2): 48–51. (In Chinese with English summary.). Close ), pinkish brown with fine, well-dispersed burgundy-coloured spots; mean size 53.8 mm × 37.4 mm (n = 46) (8 Zhang, K., Yang, N., Xu, Y., Ran, J., Lloyd, H. and Yue, B. (2011). Nesting behavior of Szechenyi’s Monal-partridge in treeline habitats, Pamuling Mountains, China. Wilson J. Orn.. 123(1): 93–96. Close ) incubation by female alone, 24–29 days (7 Yang, N., Ran, J.-H., Zhang, K., Yue, B.-S. and Li, B.-J. (2009). Notes on the breeding habits of the Buff-throated Partridge. Chinese J. Zool.. 44(2): 48–51. (In Chinese with English summary.). Close ). In a study at Pamuling Mts, Sichuan, only 54% of ground-nests and 33% of tree-nests survived until hatching, predation being the principal cause of ground nest failure (8 Zhang, K., Yang, N., Xu, Y., Ran, J., Lloyd, H. and Yue, B. (2011). Nesting behavior of Szechenyi’s Monal-partridge in treeline habitats, Pamuling Mountains, China. Wilson J. Orn.. 123(1): 93–96. Close ). Chicks seen in Tibet from late May to Aug, and family groups of 4–12 noted (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Presence of helpers does not seem to influence breeding productivity (1 Xu, Y., Yang, N., Zhang, K., Yue, B. and Ran, J. (2011). Cooperative breeding by Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii: a case in the Galliformes. Journal of Ornithology. 152(3): 695–700. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: insufficient information. Formerly considered Near Threatened and listed as Vulnerable in China (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Legally protected species in China: was thought uncommon, but probably a consequence of its remote habitat being rarely visited and the species remaining little known. Apparently widely distributed in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan, but distribution within known range may be very fragmented. Common in E Tibet, where supplementary feeding and protection is offered at Buddhist monasteries (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ), but population estimate of 25,000–40,000 birds there (2 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) is in error and refers to T. obscurus (9 Rank, M. (1997). New information on Chestnut-throated Partridge in Tibet. Bull. Oriental Bird Club. 25: 14. Close ), and there is recent evidence to suggest that with increasing Chinese influence in W Sichuan (where most of the population was previously Tibetan) attitudes are changing (10 Wang, N., Zheng, G. and McGowan, P.J.K. (2012). Pheasants in sacred and other forests in western Sichuan: their cultural conservation. Chinese Birds. 3(1): 33–46. Close ). In Yajiang County, Sichuan, model-predicted density of 5·14 groups/km², similar to estimated 4·7–5·3 groups/km² quantified via intensive spot-mapping (6 Xu, Y., Wang, B., Dou, L., Yue, H., Yang, N., Yang, L., Liu, S. and Ran, J. (2016). Estimating density of a rare and cryptic high-mountain Galliform species, the Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii. Avian Conserv. & Ecol.. 11(1): 10. Close ). No information at all from NE India, which lies on edge of range and occurrence is frequently considered to be unconfirmed (11 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) is a natural predator of young chicks (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). In past, assumed to be under some pressure from humans; such pressures still exist and might be growing regionally (see above), and are considered to include habitat loss and degradation, and hunting (5 Yang, N., Zhang, K., Lloyd, H., Ran, J., Xu, Y., Du, B., Yue, B., Wang, Y. and Klaus, S. (2011). Group size does not influence territory size and overlap in a habituated population of a cooperative breeding Himalayan Galliforme species. Ardea. 99(2): 199–206. Close ). Baseline survey needed to assess distribution and propose future actions, if needed.