Chestnut-breasted partridge

The chestnut-breasted partridge is a stunning bird native to the eastern Himalayas, found in regions such as Bhutan, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, the Nepal Himalaya, and southeast Tibet. This partridge is easily recognizable by its chestnut breast-band and grey belly. It can be distinguished from the similar rufous-throated partridge by its more reddish crown and sides of the head, a white throat patch (or gorget), and a fully chestnut-colored upper breast. The species is named after the Italian naturalist Louis Mandelli.

Regrettably, the chestnut-breasted partridge is classified as Vulnerable, with an estimated population of fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The primary threats to its survival include forest degradation, which leads to habitat fragmentation, and hunting. Nonetheless, there is hope for this species as sightings have been reported in protected areas like Singalila National Park in West Bengal and Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh. A notable occurrence in 2015 was the first-ever photograph of this species in the wild, taken in Arunachal Pradesh. This documentation not only provided valuable information but also raised awareness about this rare bird.