Chinese Bamboo-Partridge
Bambusicola thoracicus
While common in bamboo forest, this loud and colorful partridge can be found in a range of other shrubby and semiopen habitats. Not particularly shy; singing males can be located by their far-carrying song, a rising series of piercing single and triple notes. The combination of a gray-blue brow and chest, orange cheeks and breast band, and large black spots on brownish yellow flanks make this species unmistakable in its range.
Identification
The Chinese bamboo partridge is a small bird, intermediate in size between the Coturnix and Perdix species, reaching a size of 31cm, with males being slightly larger than females. The breast and back are mottled in black, chestnut, and cream colours, with black spots on the flanks and above. The partridge's face and throat have rich fulvous and rufous tints. The breast is yellow-ochre, with pale greyish blue and taupe above the eye and down to the neck. Like the long-billed partridge, bamboo partridge exhibit well-developed flight feathers. Their tails are broad and squared. The wings are long and narrow. The birds are capable of sustained flight and move from the sub-canopy of steep hillside forest to the forest floor several times throughout the day.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Bambusicola thoracicus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1815)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Bambusicola
Range and habitat
The bird is native to eastern mainland China, and has been introduced successfully to Japan, Hawaii and Argentina. It is found in warm forests and grasslands and is not entirely dependent on bamboo, despite its name. The Taiwan bamboo partridge was formerly considered a subspecies.<p>The bird was intentionally introduced first to Japan in 1919, then with varying success to Hawaii, where it is listed as an introduced bird not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An introduced population also exists on remote Iwo Jima. Despite its success elsewhere, Chinese bamboo partridge has been extirpated from Hong Kong, and a reintroduction program in 1961 failed to produce a viable breeding population.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Like many Galliform bird species, the birds prefer hiding to flight, but will readily flush if approached, startling pursuers with loud wingbeats. Within the forest, bamboo partridge are known to fly uphill, weaving through timber. This is an unusual behaviour, recorded only in the unrelated koklass. Like the related Coturnix species, francolins and junglefowl, males broadcast loud, multi-syllabic calls throughout the day and throughout the year. These vocalisations serve as challenges to other birds as well as location calls and anti-predator alarms. The loud contact call, often rendered as ki-ko-kuai or kojukei[citation needed] (the latter rendition being adopted as its Japanese name) is repeated several times before slowing to a stop. This call is heard far more than the bird is usually seen, and though the species is common throughout its limited range, it is elusive and secretive.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Nubian Woodpecker
Campethera nubica
Mid-sized green-backed woodpecker with intricate patterning. The crown is red in males, red and white-speckled black in females. Note the heavily streaked ear, bold spotting below, and plain white throat. Generally common and conspicuous in most types of savanna habitat. Usually in pairs, which give a loud duet of “keek” notes. Very similar to Bennett’s Woodpecker, but separated by the black-streaked ear. Also similar to Golden-tailed and Mombasa Woodpeckers, but easily separated by the spotted rather than striped underparts.
Bright-rumped Attila
Attila spadiceus
A distinctive, rather large flycatcher of tropical and subtropical forest and woodland, heard far more often than seen. Feeds from the forest floor to the canopy; has a habit of strongly flicking its tail up and down while perched. Readily identified by its staring face with orange eyes; stout, slightly hooked pinkish bill; and streaked breast. The bright tawny rump can be hard to see. Loud, strident, whistled song given at any time of day, but especially around dawn.
Okinawa Robin
Larvivora namiyei
Endemic resident of shady subtropical broadleaf forest understorey on the main island of Okinawa. Forages on the ground and often seen at the forest edge. Rufous-orange upperparts with grayish-white belly. Male has a black face and chest. Similar to the migratory Ryukyu Robin but male lacks the blackish flank patches and black forehead of that species. Female lacks black spotting on the chest of female Ryukyu Robin. Song is an up-and-down whistled melody. Call is a dry rattle, accompanied by wing and tail flicks.
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