Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Previously placed in Arborophila but moved to Tropicoperdix following Chen et al. (2015, 2018). Prior to this genus change, Arborophila charltonii, A. tonkinensis, and A. graydoni (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as A. charltonii following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). It differs from all taxa grouped under T. chloropus that species in its lack of tawny-buff band around lower throat/upper breast (3); upper breast mid-chestnut vs more extensive breast to neck-sides mid-brown (3); more extensive large spotting than on any other taxa (none in chloropus and olivacea, hence score 3; sometimes significant but never so large in merlini and vivida, hence score 1) (1). It shares with forms charltonii, atjenensis and graydoni a white lower throat (with black spots) and plain chestnut upper breast, but differs from the first two in having ear-coverts tawny-stained white with black spots vs plain tawny (plain dirty white on graydoni) (2); no black upper necklace from lower throat around below ear-coverts (3); distribution of large blackish spots on lower breast, mid-belly and flanks (2); smaller chestnut upper breast patch, not extending onto neck-sides (ns1); and less distinctly barred lower breast (ns1). It differs from T. graydoni in its black-spotted tawny-stained white vs plain dirty white ear-coverts (2); greyish-brown lower breast feathers more narrowly, evenly and distinctly barred with buff vs much darker, richer chestnut on upper breast with black bars (3); buffy-tan belly with large dark spotting vs plain belly with dark rufous and rufous-chestnut coloration (2). Monotypic.
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.
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2021. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
high |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified but the species is still considered common in forested habitat, including secondary and degraded forest (Brickle et al. 2008; del Hoyo et al. 2020).
Trend justification: There are no data on population trends; however, despite its tolerance for disturbed and modified habitats and resilience to hunting pressure, some overall declines are likely. Rates of wildlife trapping in forests in Viet Nam have been recorded as very high (Harrison et al. 2016). While the present species is believed to be able to persist under a degree of hunting pressure, it is suspected that the intensity of trapping of terrestrial species is sufficient to be causing a slow population decline.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Tonkin Partridge Tropicoperdix tonkinensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/tonkin-partridge-tropicoperdix-tonkinensis on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.
