
Photo: Phillip Edwards · CC BY-SA 2.0
Tetraophasis szechenyii
Diet
Leaves, roots, stems, bulbs, fruits and seeds of herbs and scrubs, plus some moss
Habitat
High mountains, 3,350–4,600m
Range
South-eastern Tibet, southern Qinghai, western Sichuan and north-western Yunnan (endemic to western China)
Size
29–50cm
Weight
660–1,790g
The buff-throated monal-partridge is endemic to the high mountains (3,350–4,600m) of western China, in south-eastern Tibet, southern Qinghai, western Sichuan and north-western Yunnan. It is usually 29–50cm long and weighs 660–1,790g. It has a distinct orange, horizontal teardrop-shaped eye ring, a light gold gorget and a crest it can occasionally flare, with a grey upper chest and a speckled orange and grey belly (Wikipedia, general species account).
Its diet consists mainly of leaves, roots, stems, bulbs, fruits and seeds of various herbs and scrubs, plus some moss. Near some monasteries the resident monks sometimes feed the birds rice and corn. Possible nocturnal predators include Pere David's owl and the tawny owl, and the birds may reduce their activity on colder days (Wikipedia, general species account).