Justification This partridge has been downlisted to Near Threatened because despite its small population and very small range, it occurs at many sites and it is not thought to be declining rapidly owing to the reported tolerance that this species and congeners show to forest degradation.

Family/Sub-family Phasianidae

Species name author Delacour, 1927

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 27 cm. Well-marked partridge with bold, black-and-white head markings and orange neck flush. Similar spp. Recalls Bar-backed Partridge A. brunneopectus, but differs primarily by broader black band through eye, black gorget, orange neck flush, broader supercilium behind eye, grey on underparts and larger black flank markings. Voice Territorial call, accelerating series of prruu notes, running into rapid series of up to 70 pwi notes. Also, very rapid tututututututututututu (up to 60 notes). Partner often accompanies with slower, stressed tchew-tchew-tchew-tchew. Weak, airy pher or phu notes when agitated.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

4,500 km²

No

Range & population Arborophila davidi is known from southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia. Recent surveys have expanded its known range in Vietnam: it has now been recorded from Cat Tien National Park (NP), Dong Nai Protected Forest Management Board⁶, Vinh An State Forest Enterprise (SFE), Nghia Trung SFE, Bu Gia Map NP, Bu Dop SFE, Vinh Cu Natural and Historical Reserve and Tan Phu SFE¹¹, Da Teh SFE¹², Binh Phouc SFE⁹ and Dak O SFE. It is predicted to occur in a number of other sites and may be widespread in southern Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces, where suitable habitat remains¹⁰. A single bird was camera-trapped in Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area (SBCA), Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia in 2002¹. The species has been recorded subsequently from the same very localised area, but it remains enigmatic in the area with an inexplicably patchy distribution¹³. Based on current evidence, the area of suitable habitat in Cambodia may be as small as 70 km^{2 13}. In 1994, its global population was estimated at <1,000 individuals but this figure is likely to prove to be an underestimate as knowledge of the species improves⁴. Nevertheless, the species is apparently rare (or perhaps just elusive) in some areas. A slow decline is suspected owing to ongoing pressures placed on forest habitats, but the apparent ability of this species (as well as many congeners) to tolerate degraded habitats suggests that current forestry operations are unlikely to represent a major threat.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It is resident in evergreen forest in lowlands and foothills, from 120 m to at least 600 m, particularly hills covered with non-thorny bamboo. It also thrives in a variety of secondary habitats including tall scrub, bamboo, Acacia, logged evergreen and semi-evergreen forest plantations, perhaps preferring bamboo-covered slopes with a thick leaf-litter layer. Thus it appears to be able to tolerate considerable habitat disturbance and modification. Pairs call in duet. Calling reportedly peaks in March but has been recorded in November in Cambodia.

Threats Extensive deforestation, particularly from herbicide spraying during the Vietnam war, presumably triggered a historic decline. Habitat loss through commercial logging, unofficial timber collection and clearance of land for cultivation (including cashew nut, cassava, rubber and other crop plantations), compounded by high hunting levels across its restricted range, now represent the main threats. Until recently these factors operated in the Cat Loc and Cat Tien protected areas as a result of ineffective management and regulation enforcement, stemming from lack of resources and staff. Illegal forest clearance by settlers has been prevalent in Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia in recent years and 120 km² of the protected area are in the process of being degazetted to allow further clearance. There is currently extensive legal collection of bamboo in the SBCA, though the impact of this on the species is unknown⁸.

Conservation measures underway In May 1998, a five-year project began in Cat Tien National Park and Cat Loc Nature Reserve (now administratively integrated), focusing on research, developing a conservation management plan, capacity building, community development and conservation education. The Orange-necked Partridge is one of the project's flagship species, and featured on a national stamp in 2000. Extensive surveys have also been carried out in Bu Gia Map National Park⁴. The known Cambodian population is within the SBCA, a former logging concession which is being managed to promote biodiversity conservation since 2002, primarily by controlling illegal hunting, encroachment and land conversion^2,5,8. Snuol Wildlife Sanctuary presumably also holds a population, but receives limited protection, with no external support to the Ministry of Environment⁶. Following surveys in Binh Phouc Province, Vietnam, the ecological requirements of the species have been refined and recommendations made to extend the boundaries of Bu Gia Map National Park and to create a 'species habitat protection area' for the benefit of Orange-necked Partridge and Germain's Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron germaini within Nghia Trung and Bu Dang State Forest Enterprises⁷.

Conservation measures proposed Identify and implement management requirements for the species within protected areas in Cambodia and Vietnam. Initiate a conservation education programme for the local people who live around selected protected areas. Quantitatively monitor the populations in Cat Tien and Cat Loc. Conduct surveys for further populations in the largest patches of suitable habitat, such as those in southern Lam Dong, Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces. Conserve any further sites found to support populations, and follow recommendations to extend the boundaries of Bu Gia Map NP. Continue conservation management improvements in Cat Tien National Park. Carry out ecological studies to determine seasonal habitat use and response to disturbance. Assess the threat posed by hunting to this species and determine what levels of hunting pressure it can withstand. Support the conservation management of SBCA and Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia and Cat Loc, Nam Cat Tien and Bu Gia Map in Vietnam. Survey the Cambodian population to assess its size and global importance. Improve training and resources for forest rangers.

References BirdLife International (2001). Keane et al. (in press b). 1. Davidson et al. (2002). 2. Davidson et al. (2003). 3. N. Tran Vy in litt. (2004). 4. S. Browne in litt. (2004). 5. C. Samnang in litt. (2004). 6. T. Evans in litt. (2007). 7. Le Manh Hung et al. (2006). 8. E. Pollard in litt. (2007). 9. Nguyen Xuan Dang and Osborn (2004). 10. Pilgrim et al. (in prep.). 11. Nguyen Tran Vy (2006). 12. Nguyen Xuan Dang et al. (2004). 13. E. Pollard in litt. (2009).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Pete Davidson (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Aidan Keane (World Pheasant Association)

Contributors Stephen Browne (Fauna and Flora International), Tom Evans (Wildlife Conservation Society), Edward Pollard (Wildlife Conservation Society), Chuum Samnang (World Pheasant Association), Jack Tordoff (BirdLife International), Nguyen Tran Vy (Institute of Ecology, Resources & Environ. Studies)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Richard Fuller (Partridge, Quail & Francolin Specialist Group), Phil McGowan (World Pheasant Association)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Arborophila davidi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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