Chinese Bamboo Partridge

Overview

The Chinese bamboo partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus) is a small Galliform bird and a monotypic species within the genus Bambusicola. It is one of three species in its genus, alongside the mountain and Taiwan bamboo partridges.

Identification

• Size of 31cm, intermediate between Coturnix and Perdix species, with males slightly larger than females.
• Breast and back mottled in black, chestnut, and cream, with black spots on the flanks and above.
• Face and throat feature rich fulvous and rufous tints, while the breast is yellow-ochre with pale greyish-blue and taupe markings above the eye and down to the neck.
• Loud, multi-syllabic call often rendered as 'ki-ko-kuai' or 'kojukei', which is heard far more frequently than the bird is seen.

Habitat

Native to eastern mainland China, this species inhabits warm forests and grasslands. Although its name suggests a dependency on bamboo, it is not entirely reliant on this plant. The species has been successfully introduced to Japan, Hawaii, and Argentina, though it was extirpated from Hong Kong.

Did you know?

Like the unrelated koklass, the Chinese bamboo partridge exhibits the unusual behaviour of flying uphill and weaving through timber within the forest.