Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala Scientific name definitions

39–43 cm (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); male c. 724 g, female c. 522 g. Differs from other Alectoris including partially sympatric (but mainly elevationally parapatric) (2 Martins, R., and G. M. Kirwan (1996). Philby's and Arabian Partridges. Sandgrouse 18(1):18–21. Close ) A. philbyi by larger size (including longer tail and deeper belly) (2 Martins, R., and G. M. Kirwan (1996). Philby's and Arabian Partridges. Sandgrouse 18(1):18–21. Close ), grey tail feathers (visible in flight), much broader white supercilium (2 Martins, R., and G. M. Kirwan (1996). Philby's and Arabian Partridges. Sandgrouse 18(1):18–21. Close ) and black crown . Female slightly smaller than male and lacks blunt spur (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Iris chestnut-brown, bill bright red , facial skin, legs and feet rose-red (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile dull grey-brown, with ginger-rufous crown, pale spotting on neck, mantle and breast, and lacks facial pattern and flanks barring; bare parts probably largely blackish (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). First-winter bird similar to adult, but has short crest, blackish bill and possibly duller general appearance. Race guichardi is generally paler than the nominate, especially on the flanks, mantle and nape (latter pale buff, rather than brown).

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No acceptable record for Eritrea, where not claimed since 1890 and data may be based on released birds.

S Arabia from Jedda (W Saudi Arabia) S to Aden (Yemen) and E to Dhofar (W Oman), with apparently isolated population in Jabal Akhdar region, near Muscat (NE Oman) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), speculated to have been introduced (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). No acceptable record for Eritrea, where not claimed since 1890 (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) and data may be based on released birds. Recent records from Jabal Hafit (Oman/United Arab Emirates border) perhaps involved recent escapees (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ).

Stony and somewhat better-vegetated ground in hills, mountains and upland plains, from near sea-level to 3000 m, including montane juniper (Juniperus) forest. In Oman , inhabits mountains, wadis and upland plains where there is vegetation; also visits cultivation.

No information available, but presumably sedentary. Escapes potential predators by running uphill.

Feeds on vegetable matter, seeds and invertebrates . Crops contained the grass Schismus barbatus and the herb Gnaphalium pulvinatum, as well as cereal seeds and insects; those from Aden with higher proportions of cultivated grain and about 15% insects. Sometimes clambers into Rosa abyssinica bushes to feed (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Forages and drinks in morning and evening; generally in coveys of up to 15 (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but exceptionally as many as 27 together (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ).

Considered to be generally louder and deeper than other Alectoris: most commonly gives a “cuck, cuck, cuck, owk-owk-owk” which starts slowly but evenly and increases in tempo and volume; also a softer “cook, cook, cookcookcookcook” in contact between pairs or coveys; if flushed utters “kerkow-kerkow-kerkow” (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays late Mar–May (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) in Arabia (pairs form from Feb) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but chicks reported Apr–Nov (mostly Jun–Sept) (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ); formerly Jul–Aug in Eritrea, where now extinct, and in any case perhaps exotic. Perhaps breeds twice per year in E Yemen/SW Oman, but in N Oman chicks only seen May/Jun (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Nest, a slight depression (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), usually sited > 600 m above sea-level, under cover. Usually 5–8 eggs (5–11), white with prominent pores (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), size 50·3 mm × 37·3 mm (5 Castell, P., Coburn, J., Pleasance, B. and Williams, S. (2001). Notes on the breeding of some Arabian birds. Sandgrouse. 23(1): 49–58. Close ); incubation 24–25 days (in captivity) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), where one female produced > 50 eggs in eight months (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Chick has whitish-buff down on lower forehead, nape, cheeks, chin, throat and rest of underparts, top of head brown, with broad rufous-buff stripe above eye, narrow dark brown line from bill above eye, reaching from rear of eye to nape, upper breast-sides rufous-buff, back mottled rufous and blackish brown, with parallel dark-edged whitish stripes on either side, and a cream wing-stripe, legs and feet orange-pink, bill pink, soon becoming black, and iris brown (5 Castell, P., Coburn, J., Pleasance, B. and Williams, S. (2001). Notes on the breeding of some Arabian birds. Sandgrouse. 23(1): 49–58. Close ). Males and females might incubate separate clutches, the broods amalgamating post-hatching (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Overall population speculated to number 400,000 pairs (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Locally common in Saudi Arabia with highest densities in juniper forest; widespread but uncommon in Yemen; fairly common in S Oman, in which country c. 300 pairs estimated on Jabal Shams and 100 pairs on Sayq Plateau (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Numbers assumed to be stable throughout range; recently reported from around Medina, thus extending range considerably. Occurs in Raydah Reserve within Asir National Park, Jebel Firqah Protected Area and several proposed protected areas. Whilst no threats are documented, species likely to be affected by pressures on its habitat, e.g. grazing by domestic stock and conversion to agricultural land, as well as periodical drought in places. Direct exploitation (hunting and collection of eggs) occurs, but not believed to have significant adverse effects at present. Juniper forest may be a key habitat (6 Davidson, P. (1996). Habitats and bird communities in southern Yemen and Socotra. Sandgrouse 17:102–129. Close ), and areas should be set aside to protect this continually degraded habitat; any conservation initiatives should aim to assess the importance of juniper and propose management and protection measures.