Przevalski's Partridge Alectoris magna Scientific name definitions

c. 36–38 cm; male 445–710 g, female 442–615 g. Pattern of collar unique among members of Alectoris: very narrow, mostly rusty brown with inner edge fuscous to black; lores and band from forehead to eye black and extending around bill base to gape (in A. chukar black band reaches onto forehead, whereas lores are white, with an isolated black spot on gape). Upperparts principally sandy grey, slightly washed brown, with rufous tail, and flanks banded black buff, creamy buff and, very narrowly, chestnut. Similar to A. chukar in dorsal colour, but closer to A. graeca in patterns of lores and flanks; differs from both in having yellowish-grey, rather than brown, eyes. Female only slightly smaller than male and lacks single tarsal spur of male. Juvenile has rather uniform plumage, albeit richly speckled white, attaining more adult-like plumage at age c. 2 months. Recently described race lanzhouensis said to lack sandy tones in upperparts, broader black (and fewer) bands on flanks, black inner necklace broader than red-brown outer necklace (the reverse in the nominate) and the culmen is higher and thicker (1 Liu Nai-Fa, Huang Zu-Hao and Wen Long-Ying (2004). Subspecies divergence of Przewalski’s Rock Partridge (Alectoris magna) description of a new subspecies. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29: 600–605. (In Chinese with English summary.). Close ).

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NC China (Qinghai and SE Gansu).

Apparently occupies rocky hillsides and valleys covered with grass and small bushes from 1300 m to 4000 m. May occur around farms and villages in winter (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Altitudinal migration reported to occur in E Qinghai Plateau, especially in cold winter weather, but not in Yellow Soil Plateau.

Adults eat seeds, rhizomes, bulbs, seedlings and shoots; also some invertebrates, chiefly spiders, grasshoppers and beetles (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Young birds consume mostly insects and green leaves. Will forage around farmsteads in winter, picking fallen grain in animal pens or at droppings of domestic livestock (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Song starts with an accelerating series of nasal clucking notes  , suddenly switching to doubled notes “kuk...kuk...kok..kow..kow..kow-ow..kow-ow..kow-ow…”; given from prominent rock, the male standing erect, head held high and drawn backwards (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Rallying call, given prior to foraging in morning, is repeated “ga, ga, ga, gela, gela, gela...” (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Flushed birds utter an excited, far-carrying “fei-ji..fei-ji..fei-ji…” or “ja..ja..ja…”. Alarm call of male, given whilst guarding nest, a whistled “dirdir..dirdir…” likened to the call of Oriental Greenfinch (Chloris sinica) (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays from early May until Jul (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); pairing from late Mar to mid Apr, during which period coveys disband (typically up to 30), although unmated males may remain in small flocks throughout summer (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Nests by cover in sunny locations on steep ground, or on cliffs of yellow soil ravines; nest is a simple hollow lined with grass, leaves and feathers, etc., constructed by both sexes (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Records of seven clutches of 7–20 pale yellow-buff eggs speckled reddish brown (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), average 12·3; incubation 22–24 days under artificial conditions, by female alone. Both parents tend young, families staying together until next breeding season.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Previously considered Near Threatened. Species has restricted range; occurs in Qinghai Mts Endemic Bird Area. Total population size likely to be c. 100,000 individuals, but subject to marked fluctuations according to annual rainfall, with survival higher in wet years and lower in dry periods (4 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). In NC China, densities vary from < 4 birds/km² to > 14 birds/km², depending on habitat type, with yellow-soil ravines around farmland and water the most favoured. Hunting is a major problem; species is persecuted throughout range and has been driven to extinction in some areas. A strategy for rational use should be devised to curtail this over-exploitation before numbers drop excessively.