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

Justification of Red List category
This species is endemic to Sichuan, China, where it is thought to have a small population size (fewer than 10,000 mature individuals). The population is inferred to be declining because of ongoing habitat pressures and perhaps locally hunting. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable.

Population justification
This species is evidently very scarce throughout its range, despite its low detectability. Surveys in 1996 and 1997 estimated densities of 0.48 and 0.24 calling males per km², respectively. The total area of suitable habitat within its known range was then estimated at 1,793 km², and on the basis of densities recorded, and the assumption that each calling male represents one pair (which may be an underestimate, given birds may move in groups, and it relies on high detectability), the total population was estimated at 860-1,722 birds (BirdLife International 2001). However, it has since been recorded at more sites, and surveys between 1998 and 2002 at Laojunshan Nature Reserve found higher densities of 4.24 ±1.77 individuals/km². Laojunshan has more recently been estimated to support at least 300-400 mature individuals (Fu and Chen 2017). Revising the area of suitable habitat to incorporate these records finds approximately c.2,000-2,500 km² of suitable habitat (data from Jung et al. [2020], analysed using sRedList [2023]). Accounting for the fact that not all of this will be occupied, the population size is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The main threat to this species is forest loss and degradation, which are mostly occurring at a small scale due to illegal logging, as well as bamboo and medicinal plant collectors. Localised hunting may provide additive rates of decline. Rates of overall decline have not been estimated, although are likely to be small. Recent rates of forest canopy cover loss have been slow, equivalent to 2-3% in three generations (Global Forest Watch 2024, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods therein), but the method used to generate these values is insensitive to habitat degradation which may be having compounding impacts, as might the threat of hunting. Rates of decline are highly uncertain, but while habitat loss has shown trends of slowing (in large part due to China's successful protected area network), climate change has been postulated to reduce the area of suitable habitat of this elevation-restricted species (see Lei et al. 2014).

Arborophila rufipectus is endemic to China, where it is known from south-central Sichuan, and possibly north-east Yunnan (BirdLife International 2001).

It is found in temperate broadleaved cloud forest, mainly mixed evergreen and deciduous, at 1,100-2,250 m, perhaps mostly at 1,400-1,800 m (Liao et al. 2008b). Radio telemetry studies have shown that, when foraging, it favours undisturbed, closed-canopy forest with sparse bamboo growth and a thick layer of damp leaf-litter (Liao et al. 2008a, 2008b, Dai Bo et al. 2009, S. Dowell in litt. 2007) and probably also an open forest floor (Dai Bo et al. 2009, S. Dowell in litt. 2007) contra Liao et al. (2008b), although it seems to prefer areas of dense shrub cover for roosting (Liao et al. 2008a). Although it prefers shallow slopes, most of the remaining areas of forest within its range are on steep slopes. It occurs in secondary forest at similar densities, but usually within 1 km of primary forest (S. Dowell in litt. 2007). Birds show a preference for primary and mature planted broadleaved forest over degraded forest and scrub (Dai Bo et al. 2009). Research has also shown that it occurs in broadleaved plantations after about 15 years of growth provided that native broadleaved species are used in the replanting (S. Dowell in litt. 2007, Dai Bo et al. 2009).

Until recently the main threat was habitat destruction through commercial clear-felling of primary forest, as most remaining primary broadleaved forest within its known range was at risk from logging within 20-25 years. In 1998, a government-imposed ban on logging in the upper Yangtze Basin led to a complete halt in deforestation throughout its range (S. Dowell in litt. 2007, Liao et al. 2008a, 2008b, Dai Bo et al. 2009). There is now a major forest plantation scheme in operation aiming to re-forest ridges and steeper slopes (S. Dowell in litt. 2007). In general though, habitat is still declining, albeit now at a very slow rate (Global Forest Watch 2024). Many people enter the forest to collect bamboo shoots, firewood and medicinal plants in spring and early autumn, which creates substantial disturbance during the breeding season, and additional disturbance is caused by livestock either grazing in, or moving through, the forest. It is also suspected to be occasionally illegally hunted. Climate change has been suggested to reduce the area of suitable habitat of this elevation-restricted species between now and 2050 (see Lei et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions Underway
It is a nationally-protected species in China. In 1998, it was recorded in Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve, where there was estimated to be 192 km² of potentially suitable habitat. Several surveys and a radio telemetry study have greatly improved knowledge of its distribution, population density, and ecological and conservation requirements (S. Dowell in litt. 2007, Liao et al. 2008a, 2008b, Dai Bo et al. 2009). Some forestry practices may be of benefit to its conservation, notably leaving strips of primary forest along ridge tops and replanting with native broadleaved trees. In 2001, Laojunshan Nature Reserve in Pingshan County was established specifically to protect Sichuan Partridge and this reserve now contains the highest known population densities of this species. The site was gazetted as a national nature reserve in 2011 (S. Dowell in litt. 2012). Two further reserves were subsequently established within the range of the partridge, at Mamize (380 km²) in Leibo County in 2002 and at Heizhugou (over 300 km²) in E'bian County (S. Dowell in litt. 2007, Dai Bo et al. 2009) in 2004. Both these reserves contain substantial areas of suitable broadleaved forest and Sichuan Partridge has been recorded in both, although at much lower densities than at Laojunshan. All three reserves have received support to train and equip staff and engage with the local community to provide alternative livelihoods and encourage sustainable forest resource management practices, and annual monitoring is undertaken at each. Research on this species has been ongoing (e.g. Lei et al. 2012, Fu and Chen 2017). There is some evidence of habitat recovery in some parts of its range (Global Forest Watch 2024).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to expand the protected area network by proposing and establishing new reserves, connecting reserves using habitat corridors and assisting existing reserves to attain national nature reserve status. Incorporate knowledge of the habitat requirements of roosting birds into management practices (Liao et al. 2008a). Create habitat corridors by planting fast-growing native broadleaved tree species. Enhance management capacity at protected areas, including removing fast-growing alien tree species where possible and policing the collection of bamboo shoots (Dowell 2011). Enforce tighter controls on hunting (Dai Bo et al. 2009). Develop sustainable wood-cutting, bamboo and medicinal plant collection and alternative livelihoods to provide economic benefits for local people. Encourage controlled ecotourism in selected areas in line with tourism plan for region. Monitor populations to establish the population size and density in all reserves, and to determine the effects of management.

28-30.5 cm. Typical, generally grey-brown, partridge with distinctly patterned head and breast. Male has broad, chestnut breast band, narrow, white supercilium meeting on forehead, brown crown, black lores and broad eye-line, rufous-orange ear-covert patch and black-streaked white throat. Female similar but duller. Similar spp. Mountain Partridge Bambusicola fytchii and Chinese Bamboo Partridge B. thoracica are larger, longer-tailed and have distinctly different head patterns and bold, dark breast-side and flank spotting. Voice Territorial call (often delivered as pair-duet) is drawn out series of loud, ascending whistles, repeated regularly.

Text account compilers
Pilgrim, J., Berryman, A.

Contributors
Bo, D., Dowell, S. & He, F.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sichuan-partridge-arborophila-rufipectus on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.