Hainan partridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hainan partridge |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Arborophila
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| Species: |
ardens
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| Synonyms | |
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Arboricola ardens Styan, 1892 |
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The Hainan partridge (Arborophila ardens) is a special type of bird that lives only on Hainan Island in China. It's a beautiful bird that belongs to the Phasianidae family, which includes pheasants and quails. This partridge makes its home in thick, old forests. Sadly, it's a vulnerable species, which means its numbers are getting smaller because its forest home is disappearing.
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About the Hainan Partridge
What is a Hainan Partridge?
The Hainan partridge was first described by a scientist named Styan in 1892. It's a "monotypic" species, which means it's the only type of Hainan partridge in its group. Think of it like a unique branch on a family tree!
What Does It Look Like?
The Hainan partridge is a medium-sized bird, about 26 to 28 cm (10 to 11 inches) long. The male bird usually weighs around 300 g (10.6 oz). The female is a bit smaller, weighing about 237 g (8.4 oz).
This bird has a blackish head. It has a white patch near its ears and a whitish stripe above its eyes. The top of its head and the back of its neck are dark brown with black spots. Its upper body is olive-brown with black scales, almost like armor.
The throat and sides of its neck are blackish. A bright orange collar wraps around its lower neck. Its belly is grey, turning buffish in the middle. The wings are a greyish-brown color. The Hainan partridge has a black beak, brown eyes, and dull reddish legs. Female partridges are generally smaller and not as brightly colored as the males.
Where Does It Live?
The Hainan partridge lives only on Hainan Island in China. There have been a few unconfirmed sightings in Guangxi, but its main home is Hainan. These birds prefer to live in old, untouched forests. These forests can be made of broadleaf trees or a mix of broadleaf and pine trees. They usually live at high elevations, from 600 to 1600 m (about 2,000 to 5,200 feet) above sea level. They can also be found in forests that are growing back after trees were cut down.
How Does It Behave?
Scientists don't know a lot about how the Hainan partridge behaves. They think it acts much like other partridges in its family. People have seen these birds alone, in pairs, or in small groups called coveys. They like to eat snails and seeds.
The Hainan partridge has a special call. It makes a two-note sound that repeats, like ju-gu ju-gu ju-gu. Sometimes, another bird will answer with quick single notes.
Why Is It Vulnerable?
Scientists believe there are about 2,600 to 3,500 adult Hainan partridges left. However, this number might be higher because new groups of these birds were found between 2002 and 2005.
The number of Hainan partridges likely dropped quickly in the past. This happened because their forest homes were being destroyed. But since 2002, more forests have been protected, which might have slowed down the decline.
Threats to the Hainan Partridge
The biggest threats to the Hainan partridge are:
- Forest Clearance: Forests are being cut down for wood and to make space for farms.
- Illegal Hunting: Some people hunt these birds even though it's against the law.
- Climate Change: Changes in the Earth's climate might also harm their habitat.
Because its population is small and shrinking, and it lives in a small area, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it as a vulnerable species. This means it's at high risk of becoming endangered. In China, the Hainan partridge is a protected species by law.
About 410 km² (158 sq mi) of the 660 km² (255 sq mi) of suitable habitat for these birds are now in nature reserves. These reserves include places like Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Jianfengling, Wuzhishan, Diaoluoshan Limushan, and Nanweiling. These protected areas help give the Hainan partridge a safe place to live.
