Family: Phasianidae (Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse)

Authority: Hume, 1874

Red List Category

Criteria: A3cd+4cd

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Justification of Red List category
This forest partridge is at risk from a rapid future reduction in the area of its cool mid-elevation eastern Himalayan habitat due to climate-driven changes. Bioclimatic envelope modelling predicts a reduction in the total area of suitable habitat of nearly 40% by 2070, indicating that rates of reduction are likely to exceed 20% over the next three generations. This is separate from current low estimated rates of forest loss and some localised hunting suspected of causing a current decline in the species' population. Accordingly, the species is assessed as Near Threatened.

Improved information on the distribution of the species strongly indicates that the global population size is unlikely to approach threatened thresholds. Therefore, although the ongoing slow loss of forest cover and localised high hunting pressure may be causing a decline, the species does not qualify as threatened under the small population size and decline criterion. Equally, while the area and likely quality of habitat is inferred to be declining, the species does not approach thresholds under the small range and decline criterion.

Population size: 80000-140000 mature individuals

Population trend: decreasing

Extent of occurrence (breeding/resident): 227,000 km²

Country endemic: no

Attributes
Land-mass type - continent
Realm - Indomalayan
Realm - Palearctic
IUCN System - Terrestrial