Rare Yellow-legged Buttonquail Spotted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL

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Picture Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-legged_buttonquail

Context: An uncommon breeding migratory bird, the Yellow-legged Buttonquail, was spotted by ornithologist Purvesh Mehta in Bopal-Ghuma, Ahmedabad.

About Yellow-legged Buttonquail

It is a small bird, normally 15 to 18 cm in length.
Females are larger and more brightly coloured than males.
Males have a black crown with buff margins, while females have a richer colouration with a reddish-brown collar around the neck.
Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
It has two recognized subspecies:
- t. tanki in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- t. blanfordii in Myanmar, Indochina, and eastern China.
It also migrates seasonally to drier parts of India and southeastern Russia.
They are mainly found in grasslands, scrublands, and agricultural fields. It prefers areas with dense vegetation for nesting and feeding.
Ground-dwelling and primarily runs away from danger rather than flying. It is often solitary or found in pairs.
Omnivorous diet includes green plant material, seeds, and various insects like beetles, ants, and grasshoppers.
Breeding occurs mainly from March to November, during the wet season. Females are polyandrous, mating with multiple males and leaving incubation to the male.
Classified as "least concern" by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and stable population. No significant threats have been identified.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

●It was founded in 1948, to assess and document the conservation status and extinction risks of biological species worldwide.

●Its mission is to "influence, encourage, and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable."

●The IUCN is widely recognized for its Red List, which assesses the conservation status of species globally, providing critical information for conservation actions.

●It receives support from member contributions, grants, donations, and partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private sector entities. This funding supports various conservation projects, research, and advocacy efforts.

●Over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental organizations from more than 170 countries are members of IUCN.

●Headquarters: Located in Gland, Switzerland.

Source:

The Times of India

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements in the context of the Yellow-legged Buttonquail:

1. It is a small bird, normally 15 to 18 cm in length.

2. Males are larger and more brightly coloured than females.

3. Males have a black crown with buff margins, while females have a richer colouration with a reddish-brown collar around the neck.

4. They are classified as "least concern" by the IUCN.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) Only three

D) All four

Answer: C