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Description:
Mountain Bamboo Partridges are small ground birds with a short
black beak, short rounded wings, and a short tail. They are approximately
14 inches tall. They have a collar of chestnut around the neck and
breast, and a long white eyebrow with a black streak below. There are
bold black spots along the sides, and the underparts are creamy white to
pale buff. Males may be slightly larger than females, and have bony spurs
on the backs of their legs. Occasionally, females may also have spurs.
Range:
Southeast Asia at elevations of 3,000-7,000 feet
Habitat:
Bamboo forest, open scrub forest, and tall grassland along
waterways
Diet:
In the wild, they eat seeds, berries, shoots and buds, and a
variety of invertebrates. In the zoo, our partridges eat soft-billed bird
diet, small bird maintenance, and minced fruits and vegetables.
Life
Cycle:
Mountain Bamboo Partridges probably breed March through
September in most of their range. The nest is a scrape lined with grass
and leaves. Each female lays a clutch of 4-6 eggs, and incubates for
18-19 days. The male usually stays near the nest. Chicks are precocial –
they are born well-developed and active, and can feed themselves shortly
after hatching. The female may help guide the chicks to food sources.
Did You Know?
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When Mountain Bamboo Partridges are threatened, they prefer
to run away. If necessary, they fly with short, strong bursts, usually
only for a few feet.
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They are rarely found far from water.
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Their voice is a “loud ringing cackle” that repeats two
notes over and over.
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