Hill Partridge

Location & Date : near Chopta, Uttarakhand, India (April 2018)

RECORD SHOT

The Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, Thailand andVietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Males of the species have ornate patterns and markings, a combination of an orange crown and face set against a black head and streaked throat. Females lack the head markings but share the variegated wings and grey-streaked underparts of the male. Four subspecies have been identified on the basis of differences on the head markings on the male. The food of this species comprises seeds and various invertebrates, which it collects by scratching in leaf litter. The birds are mostly seen in pairs or small coveys of up to 10 individuals that may be made up of family groups.

The Hill Partridge has a hen-like contact call that is constantly uttered when it is feeding. Indian populations breed between April and June, although earlier breeding has been recorded at lower altitudes. The average clutch size is 3-5 eggs but up to nine eggs have also been observed. Incubation times are unrecorded in wild birds but are reported to be 24 days for captive birds. The nest is shaped like a bowl, with a dome of glass when it is placed in a bank. The range spans over a narrow band from the western Himalayas to north Vietnam. The species is not globally threatened and is common in most parts of its range. The length of this species is roughly 10.5–12 in (27–30 cm) and weight can vary between 8 oz (230 g) for a small female to 13.6 oz (390 g) for a large fat male