Identification:
This quail species exhibits similar plumage in both males and females. Generally, the upperparts are dark brown, slightly tinged with reddish-brown, with each feather featuring black barring. The head, nape, and neck display thicker black streaks, giving them a darker appearance. The throat, sides, and underside of the neck are pale white with black speckling. The breast features a distinct reddish-brown band that extends across the upper chest; the wings are reddish-brown with black barring.
The flanks are reddish-brown, with prominent black barring, creating a darker coloration. The underside of the tail is pale white. The beak is yellowish-green with a reddish base. The eyes are brown, and the skin around the eyes is gray with a black border. The legs are pale yellowish-green.
Biology and Ecology:
Similar to other bird species, the Rufous-throated Partridge (Arborophila charltonii) breeds from mid-summer to late summer. Its diet primarily consists of Fabaceae fruits, chestnuts, various insects, and earthworms. The Rufous-throated Partridge lives in pairs or small flocks of 3-5, sometimes up to 7 individuals, in humid, dense evergreen secondary forests, mixed forests (bamboo and interspersed trees), and long-recovered forests on mountain slopes, hills, and small valleys at the foot of limestone mountains, at altitudes of 50-1300 meters with a slope not exceeding 5%. They forage on the ground during the day and roost in trees at night.
Distribution:
- Within Vietnam: The subspecies A. ch. tonkinensis is only distributed in the Northeast and North Central regions.
- Globally: Other subspecies of A. charltonii are distributed in Indonesia, southern Myanmar, Malaysia, and southern Thailand, where they are nearly extinct.
Value:
The species is endemic to Vietnam, valued for ornamental purposes and as a food source. Therefore, it holds significant importance for the conservation of biodiversity in Vietnam and globally.
Conservation Status:
The Rufous-throated Partridge has a wide distribution, often inhabiting areas near or within human-impacted environments such as logging and deforestation for cultivation, and it is also subject to continuous hunting. However, the Rufous-throated Partridge is currently protected in some conservation areas.
Classification:
LR cd (Least Concern, conservation dependent)
Conservation Measures:
Listed in the IUCN Red List (2000). Listed in the appendices of the CITES convention. Hunting is strictly prohibited, and habitat protection is enforced.