Szechenyi's monal-partridge

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Szechenyi's monal-partridge

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Tetraophasis
Species:
T. szechenyii
Binomial name
Tetraophasis szechenyii
Madarász
, 1885

Szechenyi's monal-partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii), also known as buff-throated partridge or buff-throated monal-partridge, is a member of the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. They are endemic to western China.[2]

Taxonomy

The common name, as well as the Latin binomial, of the Szechenyi's monal-partridge commemorates Graf Bela Szechenyi, a Hungarian explorer.[3] Complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of the species places the Szechenyi's monal-partridge in the genus Tetraophasis in the family Phasianidae. Phylogenetic positioning of the Tetraophasis has been understudied, though there is strong support that it and genus Lophophorus are sister genera, forming a subclade with Tragopan.[2]

Description

The Szechenyi's monal-partridge is a sexually monochromatic, medium-sized species of partridge. It has a distinct orange horizontal teardrop shaped eye ring, a light gold gorget, as well as a crest that it can occasionally flare up. The species has a grey upper chest and speckled orange and grey belly. They are usually 29–50 cm in length and weigh between 660-1790g.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Szechenyi's monal-partridge is endemic to the high mountains (3350–4600 m) of western China, and is distributed in southeastern

Père David's owl (Strix davidi) and tawny owls (Strix aluco). Mammalian predators include leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) and mountain weasels (Mustela altaica).[6]

Behavior

Diet:

The Szechenyi's monal-partridge's diet consists mainly of

breeding season early have more time to molt and recover fat reserves before winter, giving them a greater chance of survival during the harsher months.[8]

Breeding:

The Szechenyi's monal-partridge is one of the few galliformes that participate in

precocial chicks, will forage together during the day, but the breeding female and chicks will still keep their distance until they are over 15 days old.[9] All adult members experience brooding, vigilance, and territorial behavior, with the helpers focusing especially on fighting during territorial display after the chicks hatch, defending their territory from helpers in rival family units. Breeding males rarely display fighting behavior and females will never participate in fighting. These family groups remain stable during the breeding season, and exhibit low rates of individual disappearance. Individual disappearance increase during the winter, but are most frequent among the young.[10]

Roosting:

The Szechenyi's monal-partridge not only participate in cooperative breeding, but they also engage in

preen their feathers. As sunset approaches, the birds will bob their necks as they prepare for their ascent.[11] Barring the incubation period and the first couple weeks after the eggs hatch where the breeding pair stays separated, the partridges will roost together in linear huddles on a single branch close to the tree trunk usually up 7m high. Females with chicks will usually wait for more than 15 days before joining the males in the huddle, since it is difficult for chicks to fly up into the tree. Females and their chicks will instead brood under dense undergrowth until they are ready to fly up to the branches.[9] Due to the nature of a linear huddle, the communal roosting benefits are unlikely to be acquired equally by all birds. The breeding male is usually the first to enter the roosting tree, with the helpers going up last, occupying the outermost positions. Females never have a consistent timing with entering the roost. The partridges will always enter the roost one by one, never simultaneously. Once the chicks are ready to join the roost, they are squeezed into the middle, where it is the warmest and safest. Once settled in their selected positions in the linear huddle, they will face downward and hold that position until morning unless the birds are disturbed, in which case they abandon the roost by gliding away.[11] When temperatures drop, in order to minimize heat loss, Szechenyi's monal-partridges will perch earlier and depart from the roost later in the day. They may also reduce their general level of activity as well on colder days. These birds will generally gather the minimum amount of resources needed to survive overnight, and save energy by remaining inactive for a longer amount of time.[12]

Conservation status

Even though this species is in the Least Concern category by the current IUCN Red List;[13] under the Red Book of China, it is currently considered as endangered and listed in Category I of the nationally protected animals.[14] With Sichuan and Yunnan rapidly modernizing since the mid 70s, deforestation needs to be studied as a potential threat to this species. Logging companies have been clearing large areas of natural forest, with most of the trees being firs and spruce firs, which act as roosting sites for the Szechenyi's monal-partridge.[15] In order to focus on conservation efforts for the Szechenyi's monal-partridge, more information on the species' ecology and habitat use is needed. This information is fundamental to determine its conservation status.[14]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678680A92784346.en
    . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^
    S2CID 83473796
    .
  3. OCLC 54616507
    .
  4. S2CID 42394645
    .
  5. ISSN 1938-4254
    .
  6. S2CID 85247982
    .
  7. ^
    S2CID 243577202
    . Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  8. PMID 26784961
    .
  9. ^ a b Xu, Yang, Wang, Yue, Ran, Yu, Nan, Ying, Bisong, Jianghong (2010). "Roosting Behavior and Roost Selection by Buff-throated Partridges Tetraophasis szechenyii during the Breeding Season". Zoological Studies. 49: 461–469 – via ResearchGate.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. S2CID 42394645
    .
  11. ^
    S2CID 85247982
    .
  12. ^ Xu, Ran, Zhou, Yang, Yue, Wang, Yu, Jianghong, Xin, Nan, Bisong, Ying (2008). "The effect of temperature and other factors on roosting times of Szechenyi Monal Partridges Tetraophasis szechenyii during the breeding season". Ornis Fennica. 85: 126–134 – via ResearchGate.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2012-1.rlts.t22678680a40084683.en
    .
  14. ^
    ISSN 1712-6568
    .
  15. ^ "Saving Sichuan's trees". www.chinadialogue.net. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
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