White-necklaced partridge

The white-necklaced partridge (Arborophila gingica), also known as the collared partridge or Rickett's hill-partridge,[3] is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is endemic to southeastern China. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting, and the IUCN has assessed it as near-threatened.

White-necklaced partridge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Arborophila
Species:
A. gingica
Binomial name
Arborophila gingica
(Gmelin, 1789)[2]
Synonyms

Tetrao gingicus Gmelin, 1789

Taxonomy

This species was described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. Two subspecies are recognised: A. g. gingica found in southeastern China and A. g. guangxiensis found in Guangxi.[4] The subspecies guangxiensis, which has a chestnut forehead instead of a white one,[5] was described in 2008. A study of the subspecies's DNA supported the taxonomic validity of A. g. guangxiensis.[5]

Description

The white-necklaced partridge is 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) long and weighs about 253 g (8.9 oz).[6] The adult's forehead is white (in the nominate subspecies),[3] and there is a long supercilium. The neck-sides and throat are orange-rufous. There are a black gorget and a white band above the chestnut upper chest. The underparts are dark grey, changing to whitish on the belly. The nape and back are reddish-brown, with black spots. The rump is olive-brown and has black spots. The wings range from greyish to buffy-brown. The female is like the male but smaller.[3] The short beak is grey, the eyes are brown, and the legs are red.[6] The juvenile bird has a duller breast.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The white-necklaced partridge is endemic to southeastern China, in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. It lives in forests, bamboo and scrub at elevations of 150–1,900 m (490–6,230 ft).[1]

Behaviour

This partridge occurs in the undergrowth during the day and roosts in trees.[1] It eats seeds, berries and insects. The territorial call is a repeated plaintive whistle, including wooop and co-qwee. It mostly calls in the early morning and the evening. It breeds from April to May, laying a clutch of five to seven eggs.[3]

Status

The population size is estimated at 10,000–19,999 mature birds. The species is threatened by habitat loss caused by forest clearing, construction of roads and mining. It is also hunted illegally. Because of these threats, the population is declining. The IUCN previously assessed it as vulnerable, but the species' range was later found to be larger, so it is currently assessed as a near-threatened species.[1] A programme to breed the species in captivity began at Guangzhou in 1986.[3]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Arborophila gingica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22679050A92801007. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679050A92801007.en.
  2. Linnaeus (1788–1793). J.F.Gmelin (ed.). Systema Naturae. vol. 1 pt. 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae. p. 760.
  3. Madge, Steve; McGowan, Phil (2010). Pheasants, Partridges & Grouse: Including buttonquails, sandgrouse and allies. Bloomsbury. p. 257. ISBN 9781408135655.
  4. Gill, F.; Donsker, D. (eds.). "Pheasants, partridges & francolins". IOC World Bird List Version 7.2. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. Chen, De; Liu, Qiong; Chang, Jiang; Jiang, Aiwu; Zhou, Fang; Zhang, Yanyun; Zhang, Zhengwang (2016). "Multi-locus analysis supports the taxonomic validity of Arborophila gingica guangxiensis Fang Zhou & Aiwu Jiang, 2008". ZooKeys. 555: 125–136. doi:10.3897/zookeys.555.6814. PMC 4740825. PMID 26877690.
  6. Brazil, Mark (2009). Birds of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Russia. A&C Black. p. 34. ISBN 9780691139265.
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