The Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis), also known as the Udzungwa partridge, is a small, approximately 29 centimetres (11 in) long, boldly barred, brownish partridge with rufous face, grey underparts, olive-brown crown and upperparts. It has a red bill, brown iris and yellow legs. The sexes are similar.
Taxonomy
The Udzungwa forest partridge was formally described by Lars Dinesen and collaborators in 1994 based on a specimen collected in the Udzungwa Mountains of southern Tanzania. They introduced a new genus Xenoperdix, and coined the binomial name Xenoperdix udzungwensis.
Two subspecies are recognised:
- X. u. udzungwensis Dinesen, Lehmberg, Svendsen & Hansen & Fjeldså, 1994 – Udzungwa Mountains of south Tanzania
- X. u. obscuratus Fjeldså & Kiure, 2003 – Rubeho highlands of south Tanzania
The subspecies X. u. obscuratus has sometimes been considered as a separate species, the Rubeho forest partridge.
The diet consists mainly of beetles, ants and seeds. Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and overhunting in some areas, the Udzungwa forest partridge is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
References
