• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. The status of this species was recently reassessed against the IUCN Red List criteria at national level for the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 (Garnet and Baker 2021), and not found to approach or meet the thresholds for threatened status, thereby supporting its continuing treatment as globally Least Concern.

Population justification
Its population could possibly number c.100,000 birds, including c.50,000 mature individuals. However, there are effectively no data to support this (S. Garnett in litt. 2007, J. Woinarski in litt. 2007). The species may historically have disappeared from half of its range, particularly near the McArthur River region, where it was last recorded in 1913 (Garnett and Crowley 2000), however no recent declines have been reported even though the population is sparse and scattered, and population declines in the last three generations (10 years) are considered unlikely (Garnett et al. 2011). The population trend is therefore suspected to be stable.

Trend justification
The species may historically have disappeared from half of its range, particularly near the McArthur River region, where it was last recorded in 1913 (Garnett and Crowley 2000), however no recent declines have been reported even though the population is sparse and scattered, and population declines in the last three generations (11 years) are considered unlikely (Garnett et al. 2011). The population trend is therefore suspected to be stable.

Turnix castanotus has a disjunct distribution in Top End, Northern Territory, and the Kimberley region, northern Western Australia, Australia. It could possibly number c.100,000 birds, including c.50,000 mature individuals. The species has not been seen in the McArthur River region since 1913, however no recent declines have been reported even though the population is sparse and scattered, and the population is not currently thought to be declining (Garnett et al. 2011).

The species prefers areas of short grass in eucalypt woodland, particularly on stony or rocky hills (J. Woinarski in litt. 2007). Limited data suggest that it feeds on seeds and insects. Its nest is a dome of grass on the ground.

Its decline in the McArthur River region, from where the Partridge Pigeon Geophaps s. smithii and Hooded Parrot Psephotus dissimilis have also been extirpated, suggests that large-scale changes in habitat may be affecting the species. Possibilities include grazing by introduced herbivores or inappropriate changes in the fire regime. The spread of annual Sorghum spp. and exotic pasture grasses may be particularly detrimental to ground-dwelling granivores. This species may be adversely affected by global climate change, which could cause even more unfavourable fire regimes (J. Woinarski in litt. 2007).

Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine the characteristics of habitat used by the species. Correlate distribution with patterns of fire and grazing. Devise and implement optimum management regime, especially in protected areas.

Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.

Contributors
Garnett, S. & Woinarski, J.C.Z.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Chestnut-backed Buttonquail Turnix castanotus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/chestnut-backed-buttonquail-turnix-castanotus on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.