Partridges, Quails, Francolins, Snowcocks, Guineafowl, and Turkeys

Chongoroi was recommended in the early 1970s, but has
not yet been established (Huntley 1974a, Huntley and
Matos 1994).
Targets:
• Conduct extensive surveys to assess the species’ status
and recommend future action (though the military
situation in the country currently precludes this).
• Use satellite imagery to assess the current extent of
forest cover and identify potential areas of suitable
habitat (so that surveys can start once civil unrest abates).
Swierstra’s francolin
(Francolinus swierstrai)
Vulnerable B1+2a,b,c,e; C2a
This species qualifies as Vulnerable owing to its small,
highly fragmented range and population. It is inferred that
there is a continuing decline in the area, extent, and quality
of forest within its range and consequently in overall numbers.
Range and population: Swierstra’s francolin is found in
western Angola, from Tundavala in Huila District north
to Cariango in Cuanza Sul District, on inselbergs in
Huambo District, and the Bailundu Highlands (Dean in
press). On Mt Moco in the Bailundu Highlands, the area
with the most forest remaining, only 15 forest patches (1–
15ha) survive and all are located in deep ravines (Dean in
prep.).
Ecology: It is found in montane areas, where it is known
mainly from forest and forest edge, but also recorded from
rocky and grassy mountainsides, tall grass savannas on
mountain-tops, and gullies. In forests, it stays within
dense undergrowth of bushes, shrubs, grasses, and large
ferns. It feeds on grasses, legume seeds, and insects picked
from leaf litter. Its breeding ecology is virtually unknown,
but specimens collected in August suggest a breeding
season in May or June.
Threats: On Mt Moco, it is threatened by logging, clearing,
and burning, and the remaining forest patches are
disappearing rapidly (Dean in prep., Huntley 1974b).
Hunting may also be a serious problem.
Conservation: A protected area of about 60km 2 at Mt
Moco was proposed in the 1970s, but has not yet been
established (Huntley 1974a, Huntley and Matos 1994).
Targets:
• Conduct surveys to determine distribution, population
size, and habitat requirements (though the military
situation in the country currently precludes this).
• Use satellite imagery to assess the current extent of
forest cover and, if possible, identify potential areas of
suitable habitat (so that surveys can start once civil
unrest abates).
Black wood-partridge
(Melanoperdix nigra)
Vulnerable A1c,d; A2c,d
The continuing rapid reduction in extent and quality of
habitat across much of this partridge’s range implies that its
population is undergoing a rapid decline, qualifying it as
Vulnerable.
Range and population: The black wood-partridge is known
from Peninsular and East Malaysia (including both
Sabah and Sarawak), and Kalimantan and Sumatra,
Indonesia (Smythies 1981, van Marle and Voous 1988,
Wells 1999). It is described as local and sparse to uncommon
in Peninsular Malaysia, and there are recent records from
at least three sites in Kalimantan and one in Sumatra
(Dutson 1990, Wells 1999). However, its distribution and
population status are generally very poorly known, and
lack of information on vocalisations has hampered the
success of searches. It is presumably declining because of
dramatic ongoing reductions in its habitat (D. Holmes
in litt.).
Ecology: In Peninsular Malaysia, it is judged to be a
lowland specialist, where it has a proclivity for primary or
mature, regenerated, closed-canopy evergreen forest on
alluvial soils (Wells 1999). In Indonesia, it has been recorded
in peatswamp forest, and historically was described as
inhabiting brushwood and high bamboo-jungle (van Marle
and Voous 1988). Recent evidence from Borneo suggests
that it probably ranges up to at least 900m, perhaps
1,200m (Wilkinson et al. 1991).
Threats: The overriding threats are habitat loss,
degradation, and fragmentation as a result of large-scale
commercial logging (even within protected areas) and
widespread clearance for plantations of rubber and oil
palm (Wells 1999, D. Holmes and G. Davison in litt.). In
Indonesia, the full impact of the major fires of 1997-1998
has still to be fully assessed, but drought fires appear to be
increasing in frequency and severity on Sumatra and
Borneo (Legg and Laumonier 1999, D. Holmes in litt.). At
current rates of habitat loss, given no change in current
forest management policy, dryland lowland rainforest
could disappear completely by 2005 on Sumatra, and 2010
in Kalimantan (D. Holmes in litt.). Hunting for food may
pose an additional, more localised threat (McGowan et al.
1995).
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