Tibetan Partridge
Tibetan Partridge ( Perdix hodgsoniae )
The Tibetan Partridge ( Perdix hodgsoniae ) is a species of the family of the pheasant -like. There are three subspecies. The focus of its range are the plateaus of Tibet. Because of its large distribution area, the species is not endangered.
Appearance
The Tibetan Partridge reached a size 28 to 31 centimeters and weighs 294-340 grams. It is gray-brown with a striped lower body and distinctly different from the rest of the body plumage the head and chest. The face is white, the neck is chestnut brown and the ear patches are black. The beak is horn colored greenish. The brown eyes brown to. The faces behind the eyes are red, but this is only noticeable in males during the breeding season.
Area of distribution and habitat
The Tibetan Partridge is mainly in the West of China and its neighboring regions. Located on the northwest frontier of India to Tibet, the species occurs sporadically. It is also found in the north of Nepal, in the north of Sikkim and the north- west of Bhutan. The main range of the species is Tibet, to the west of Sichuan and to the north of Gansu in China.
The habitat of the Tibetan partridge are mountain slopes and alpine valleys at altitudes 3600-4250 meters above sea level. But it is in the summer also to the snow line at altitudes of 5,600 meters and has been observed in Nepal in the winter as early as 2,200 meters above sea level. It favored as a habitat rocky regions with a growth of dwarf shrubs.
Life habits
Outside the breeding season the Tibet Partridge occurs in chains 10 to 15 individuals. It is not usually very shy and runs away rather than fly up when disturbed. Occasionally, however, they fly to even with loud Flügelburren. The chain is then distributed in different directions and flies as far as possible down the slope. The food consists of various seeds and small invertebrates.
The Tibetan Partridge is probably monogamous. The nest is a shallow depression lined with grass on the ground. The nest usually includes eight to ten eggs. The breeding season usually falls in the period May to July.