Himalayan quail [SEP] parent taxon
Himalayan quail
The Himalayan quail ("Ophrysia superciliosa") or mountain quail is a medium-sized quail belonging to the pheasant family. It was last reported in 1876 and is feared extinct. This species was known from only 2 locations (and 12 specimens) in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, north-west India. The last verifiable record was in 1876 near the hill station of Mussoorie.
Description.
The red bill and legs of this small dark quail and white spots before and after the eye make
Dailekh district of Nepal. The only bird from the general area that seems to fit such a description would be a male Himalayan quail.
Ecology.
All records of the Himalayan quail are in the altitude range of 1,650 to 2,400 m. They were seen in patches of tall grass ("high jungle grass", "tall seed-grass", see Terai) and brushwood on steep hillsides, particularly on the crests of south- or east-facing slopes. It probably bred around September. The June specimen is a