Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type |
continent
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: Very poorly known, but any remaining population must now be very small. It was described historically as local, but not very rare, although even by the 1930s it was documented as declining in Manipur and there has not been a confirmed record since 1932 (BirdLife International 2001). An unconfirmed observation was made from Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in March 1998, followed by another sighting in Manas National Park, Assam, in 2006 (Choudhury 2006).
In Manipur and Nagaland there have been few recent surveys, but very little suitable habitat remains and hunting is an ongoing tradition in these states with no evidence of this species being captured (as might reasonably be expected given it was evidently hunted quite commonly historically [BirdLife International 2001]). In Assam, where the species is considered most likely to persist (A. Rahmani and Praveen J in litt. 2024), surveys of numerous sites for other grassland species (e.g. Rahmani 2016) have failed to find it, and it is unclear whether management of the many tiger reserves in this region provides adequate habitat for this species (owing to uncertainty on its requirements). Notably, Synoicus chinensis is still dedicated frequently in north-east India, despite also having detectability that is at least ostensibly similar. This pattern of effort suggests that any remaining population of this species is probably now very small, placed here in a band of 1-200 mature individuals. Comprehensive surveys dedicated to this species are urgently needed.
Trend justification: In the absence of confirmed sightings since 1932, there are no data from which to estimate or infer trends. It has evidently declined since it was first discovered in response to the widespread clearance and degradation of grasslands (BirdLife International 2001) but given uncertainty over where persisting populations may be and the threats facing them directly, the current population trend is wholly unknown.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Manipur Bush-quail Perdicula manipurensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/manipur-bush-quail-perdicula-manipurensis on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.