Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge Tetraophasis obscurus is in eastern Tibet, Qilian Mountains in Qinghai and Gansu, and Min and Qionglai Mountains in Sichuan; west of Chengdu range overlaps with Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge T. szechenyii. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Rhododendron scrub, fir forest, and alpine meadows with cover, between 3000-4600 m (9,840-15,090 ft.). Often in small flocks. ID & COMPARISON Chin, throat, and foreneck chestnut, with whitish ring. Head, upperparts, rump, and uppertail coverts brownish-grey, with buff-white fringing to wings and scapulars. Tail base brownish-grey with broad black subterminal band and white terminal bar. Underparts grey with black spots on breast, mostly chestnut flecks on flanks and belly. Grey feathers show white anchor-shaped tips. Grey, black and chestnut feathers on ventral area have white fringes; chestnut undertail coverts tipped white. Female smaller and slightly duller, lacks spur. Szechenyi’s has a buff patch on throat and much more buff markings on lower breast and belly. BARE PARTS Red orbital skin. Bill grey, feet pinkish-grey. VOICE Loud, far-carrying calls often begun by one individual with others joining in. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
