PLATE 3: PARTRIDGE, QUAILS, BUTTONQUAIL & PHEASANT
Daurian Partridge Perdix dauurica
c.30 cm
ID Orange-rufous face and throat, prominent flank stripes and black belly blotch of adult male are diagnostic. Adult female is similar but duller and less strongly marked, and juv is duller still. In winter, adult male develops ‘whiskers’ and ‘beard’. Voice Assorted rasping or creaking calls; also, accelerating rex rex rex call. Habitat Dry rocky areas, river beds and steppes with grasses and low shrubs in mountains and foothills. Behaviour Typically occurs in close flocks of five or more birds, more so in winter. Prefers to run from danger, flushing only as a last resort. Nests and forages on ground, feeding on plant material and insects. In harsh winter conditions, visits nomad camps to pick seeds from livestock dung. Status Common resident breeder at lower elevations throughout highlands of Mongolia.
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
16–18 cm
ID This and Japanese Quail are smallest (Common Starling size) gallinaceous birds in Mongolia with streaky nondescript plumage and pointed wings in flight. Adult male in breeding plumage has diagnostic black ‘anchor’ mark on throat in contrast to clear rufous throat of breeding male Japanese Quail. However, non-breeding male and adult female plumages of the two species are very similar and often not safely distinguishable in field. Compare also Yellow-legged Buttonquail and Corncrake. Voice Male call is a far-carrying liquid whit, whit-tit, often rendered as ‘wet my lips’ and repeated in quick succession. Habitat High grasses and other densely vegetated open habitats, typically in river valleys. Behaviour Unobtrusive and skulking, more often heard than seen. When flushed, small size, bullet shape (pointed at both ends) and pointed wings are distinctive in both Coturnix species. Nests and forages on ground, feeding on plant material and small invertebrates. Status Rare and very local breeding visitor and passage migrant, presumably present late April to early September. Recorded in the breeding season in a few widely scattered river valleys in western and northern Mongolia, but nesting has never been confirmed.
Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica
17–19 cm
ID Adult male has rufous throat and chin, very unlike head pattern of Common Quail, but other plumages often indistinguishable in the field from that species (see Common Quail for its diagnostic characters, as well as Yellow-legged Buttonquail and Corncrake). Voice Male calls loud and rasping, very different from liquid three-note call of Common Quail. Habitat Tall dry grasslands, wet meadows and other open habitats with dense vegetation. Behaviour Very similar to Common Quail. An extreme skulker, more often heard than seen. Status Uncommon to fairly common breeding visitor and passage migrant; widespread in river valleys in north-central and eastern Mongolia. Conservation Considered Near Threatened globally.
Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
15–16 cm
ID Resembles Coturnix quails (but in fact belongs to its own family and more closely related to cranes). Hard to see, but with good views is readily distinguished from quails by richer coloration. Female is brightest with bright rufous breast and nape. Both sexes have black-spotted flanks, scaly (not streaked) back and yellow legs with three toes. Compare also rail species. Voice Song begins as a low-pitched hoot, becoming stronger and more drawn-out; also off-off-off and pook-pook; hoon-hoon-hoon-hoon-hoon; uhuu, uhuu, uhuu or pwoo pwoo pwoo. Habitat Grassland, scrub and marshland. Behaviour Shy and skulking; keeps to cover, and best located by voice. Feeds mainly on plant matter. Status Vagrant. One by Ulz River, Dornod province, 6 September 2002; remains of another found in Upland Buzzard’s nest in valley of Nömrög River, Dornod province, 8 June 1995.
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
M 75–89 cm, F 53–62 cm
ID Adult male unmistakable metallic rust and gold overall, with iridescent green head, large scarlet face wattle and long tail feathers. Adult female mainly brown and richly patterned, but long tail diagnostic. Voice Male gives loud crowing hok-kok-kok in display. Both sexes give similar but shriller cackle when flushed. Habitat River valleys with scattered willows, sandthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), Caragana bushes and dense grasses in western Mongolia. Behaviour In Mongolia, very shy or skulking; will run until startled into flight. Feeds and nests on ground, but may roost in trees. Status Rare and local resident breeder. Two isolated populations occur in Mongolia: P. c hagenbecki, endemic in western Altai region; and P. c. pallasi, which reaches Khalkh and Nömrög River basins, Dornod province, in the east. Conservation Native from the Caucasus to Japan, but widely introduced as one of world’s most popular game birds. However, the species is Near Threatened in Mongolia and listed in the Mongolian Red Book (2013). [Alt: Ring-necked Pheasant]
