Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population is estimated to number 260,000 mature individuals (Partners in Flight 2019).
Trend justification
The species has been undergoing a moderate decline at an average rate of 0.6% per year between 1970 and 2017 (Partners in Flight 2019; see also Meehan et al. 2018). Short-term trends are inconclusive however as the population appears to fluctuate between years (Pardieck et al. 2018). Given the large uncertainty surrounding the trend estimate, the population is tentatively suspected to decline slowly. Should more detailed data become available, the rate of decline may need to be revised.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mountain-quail-oreortyx-pictus on 27/11/2024.
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 27/11/2024.