Taiwan partridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taiwan partridge |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Arborophila |
| Species: |
A. crudigularis
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| Binomial name | |
| Arborophila crudigularis (R. Swinhoe, 1864)
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The Taiwan partridge (Arborophila crudigularis) is a special type of bird that lives only in Taiwan. It belongs to the Phasianidae family, which includes pheasants and quails. This bird makes its home in thick forests. While its natural habitat is slowly shrinking, experts currently believe it is not in immediate danger.
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Discovering the Taiwan Partridge
A scientist named Robert Swinhoe first described this bird in 1864. He noticed a unique red patch on its throat. This patch inspired the bird's scientific name, crudigularis, which means "bleeding throated" in Latin. Don't worry, it's a natural part of the bird's look! Scientists now think this special patch might appear mostly during the breeding season. Studies suggest that the Taiwan partridge's closest relatives are found in south-east Asia, not nearby mainland China. They likely spread to Taiwan during the ice age when sea levels were lower.
What Does the Taiwan Partridge Look Like?
The Taiwan partridge is about 28 centimeters (11 inches) long. Male birds weigh around 311 grams (11 ounces), while females are a bit lighter at 212 grams (7.5 ounces).
Its head is grey on top, with black sides. It has a white stripe above its eye, like an eyebrow, and a white patch below its eye. Its throat is white, with a black half-collar around its neck. The upper part of its body is olive-grey with black stripes. Its wings are a reddish-brown color with three grey stripes.
The bird has a short, rounded tail. Its belly is blue-grey with white streaks on its sides. It has black eyes with a thin red ring around them. Its beak is blue-grey, and its feet are orange-red. Female birds look very similar to males, but they have fewer streaks on their throat and more streaks on their sides.
Where Does the Taiwan Partridge Live?
This partridge is found only in Taiwan. It lives in the central and eastern mountains of the island. It prefers broadleaf forests, especially areas with thick bushes and plants close to the ground. You can find it at elevations from 700 to 3,000 meters (2,300 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. Most often, it lives between 1,500 and 2,000 meters (4,900 to 6,600 feet) high.
Life Cycle and Behavior
The Taiwan partridge makes a special sound. Its voice is a series of "gurru" calls that go up and down. Sometimes, two or more birds will sing together in duets or choruses.
These birds usually look for food in small groups of two or three. They eat earthworms, berryes, seeds, young plants, and insects.
They breed from March to August, depending on how high up in the mountains they live. They build their nests in small cracks or under trees. A female bird usually lays six to eight white eggs. The eggs hatch after about 24 days.
Is the Taiwan Partridge Safe?
Experts believe there are more than 10,000 adult Taiwan partridges. However, their numbers might be decreasing in areas that are not protected. This is mainly because of deforestation, which means forests are being cut down.
In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed the bird's status to a least-concern species. This means it's not currently at high risk of extinction. This change happened because scientists found that the bird's population and the area where it lives are larger than they first thought. The good news is that the Taiwan partridge lives in several national parks and nature reserves, which helps protect it.
 | Ernest Everett Just |
 | Mary Jackson |
 | Emmett Chappelle |
 | Marie Maynard Daly |
