Galliformes / Phasianidae / Perdix
Tibetan Partridge
Perdix hodgsoniae · 高原山鹑
Introduction
A gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes. Found widely across the Tibetan Plateau, it inhabits sparsely vegetated high-altitude regions. Distinctive traits include foraging on the ground, moving in pairs during summer and larger groups in the non-breeding season, and lacking leg spurs in both sexes.
Description
Measures 28–31 cm in length. Features a brown back, blackish belly patch, and chestnut flanks. The face pattern is strikingly black and white, contrasting with a rufous collar. The forehead, broad supercilium, face, and throat are white. A broad black stripe runs down the face from below the eyes. The upper parts are buff, barred with rufous and black. Tail feathers are chestnut, tipped with white. Lower plumage is pale buff closely barred with black, with broad chestnut bars on the flanks. Males have a black belly patch, which is barred in females. Females are duller than males. Juveniles are featureless buff-brown, lacking adult markings. Has 16 tail feathers.
Identification
Distinguished from other Perdix species by a striking black and white face pattern and a rufous collar. Key marks include a white forehead and throat, a broad black stripe running down from below the eyes, and a broad chestnut hind neck collar. Flight involves rounded wings with noisy scattering and gliding downhill. Vocalizations include a morning rattling 'scherrrrreck- scherrrrreck' and a shrill flight call 'chee chee chee'.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds on the Tibetan Plateau, including Tibet, Northern Pakistan via Kashmir into northwestern India, northern Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and western China. Three subspecies exist: P. h. caraganae in northwest India to eastern Tibet; P. h. hodgsoniae from eastern Tibet through western Nepal to northeast India; and P. h. sifanica in west central China up to eastern Tibet and central and south Sichuan. Non-migratory but moves to lower altitude desert plains in winter and may ascend to the snowline in summer.
Behavior & Ecology
Found on mountain slopes and high meadows with Rhododendron bushes, dwarf juniper, or scrub, typically between 3,600 and 4,250 m. Seed-eating, though young consume insects for protein. Forms flocks of 10-15 birds outside the breeding season, tending to run rather than fly. Monogamous pairs form in summer starting mid-March. Nests are grass-lined depressions on rocky plateaus, in scrub, or near crops, often close to paths. Clutch size is 8-10 brownish-buff eggs laid during May to June. Males assist in caring for young. Roosts under dense scrub at night.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Perdix
Subspecies (3)
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Perdix hodgsoniae caraganae
Ladakh (far northwestern India) through far eastern Uttarkhand
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
