Introduction
The Manipur Bush Quail, Perdicula manipurensis, is a small, poorly known quail of northeastern India. It is associated mainly with damp, tall grassland and dense scrub, and is exceptionally difficult to observe. Historical records came from Manipur, Assam and northern West Bengal, with possible but unconfirmed records from parts of Bangladesh and other neighbouring areas.
The species was considered possibly extinct after decades without a confirmed sighting. A bird was reported from Manas National Park in Assam on 6 June 2006, renewing interest in its conservation, although confirmed records remain extremely scarce.
Physical Description
The Manipur Bush Quail is a compact, short-tailed bird measuring approximately 20 centimetres in length. Its dark olive-grey to slaty upperparts are marked with black barring and spotting, providing effective camouflage in dense grass.
Adult males have a rufous-chestnut forehead, face, chin and throat, with a fine pale line through the eye. The neck and upper breast are ashy grey with black spotting, while the lower underparts are rufous-buff with strong black cross-shaped markings. The under-tail coverts are dark and spotted with white.
Females are generally duller and paler. They lack the male’s strong rufous facial and throat colouring, and their underparts are more greyish-buff. Reliable descriptions of immature plumage are limited, so young birds may be difficult to identify in the field.
Range and Habitat
The species has a restricted historical range in northeastern India. The nominate form was associated mainly with Manipur and Assam south of the Brahmaputra, while the subspecies P. m. inglisi was historically recorded from northern West Bengal and Assam north of the Brahmaputra. Historical reports also mentioned the Chittagong Hill Tracts and other parts of Bangladesh, but the extent and persistence of those records are uncertain.
Manipur Bush Quails are closely associated with damp, tall grassland, including elephant-grass stands, marshy vegetation and grassland with scattered scrub. They have also been reported from foothill habitats and areas near moist deciduous vegetation. Historical information places the species from the lowlands and foothills to approximately 1,000 metres, although its present distribution is not well established.
Much of the suitable habitat has been reduced or fragmented by agricultural expansion, settlement, vegetation clearance, burning regimes and other land-use changes. The species is regarded as resident, but its current movement patterns are uncertain because so few modern records exist.
Where to See This Species
Reliable modern records are so scarce that no site can be considered a dependable place to see the Manipur Bush Quail. The following protected areas have documented historical, reported or conservation-related records and offer the most defensible locations for carefully managed searches in suitable grassland habitat.
Manas National Park, Assam, India
Manas is the best-documented modern locality. A Manipur Bush Quail was flushed in tall grass in the Panbari Wildlife Range on 6 June 2006, after a long gap in confirmed reports. The record came from dense grassland along a park track, but visitors should not expect a sighting because the species remains extremely elusive and its current presence is uncertain.
Nearby accommodation: Bansbari and the Manas gateway area provide forest lodges, guest houses, camps and other visitor accommodation.
Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Manipur, India
The sanctuary is recognised as an Important Bird Area and has been listed in government wildlife tourism material as supporting the Manipur Bush Quail. Its mosaic of moist forest, bamboo and other natural vegetation may provide suitable cover, although publicly available evidence for a current population is limited.
Nearby accommodation: Moreh is the practical gateway, with guest houses, forest accommodation and simple lodging options in and around the town.
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India
Chakrashila and its associated wetlands are included in regional biodiversity records for the Manipur Bush Quail. The sanctuary’s grassland, wetland margins and surrounding scrub are broadly consistent with the species’ known habitat, but records should be treated as historical or unconfirmed unless supported by current field evidence.
Nearby accommodation: Kokrajhar is the nearest practical town for hotels, guest houses and other basic accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
The Manipur Bush Quail is predominantly terrestrial and usually remains within dense vegetation. Historical descriptions indicate that it may travel in small coveys, often numbering roughly five to ten birds. It is more likely to run through grass than to fly, taking wing mainly when closely approached or disturbed.
The species has been described as shy and most active in or near cover. It may use recently burnt grassland where fresh growth attracts feeding birds, but fire management must be carefully controlled because poorly timed or intense burning can destroy cover, nests and food resources.
Its diet is not well documented. As with other small bush quails, it is expected to take a mixture of grass and other plant seeds, shoots and small invertebrates, but detailed studies of its feeding ecology are lacking. Breeding behaviour, nest sites, clutch size and juvenile development are also insufficiently known.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, compact, short-tailed quail moving through damp, tall grass rather than across open ground.
- The male’s rufous-chestnut face and throat contrast with its grey, black-marked body.
- Both sexes show dark, barred or spotted upperparts and strongly marked buff underparts.
- A fine pale line through the eye is a useful feature on a close view.
- Females are duller, with a greyish-buff face and underparts, and can be difficult to separate from other small quails in poor light.
- Do not rely on size alone. A brief flight, a rapid run into cover or a distinctive call may be the only evidence of its presence.
- Any sighting should be documented with photographs, sound recordings or detailed field notes, because misidentification and unconfirmed reports have contributed to uncertainty about the species’ current range.
Conservation Status
The Manipur Bush Quail is currently treated as Critically Endangered. Its population trend cannot be assessed reliably because there are too few confirmed records, but the species is considered to have a very small and highly fragmented remaining population.
The principal threats are the loss and fragmentation of damp tall-grass habitat, conversion of grassland for agriculture and settlement, unsuitable or uncontrolled burning, and possible hunting or trapping. The disappearance of historical grasslands, including areas where specimens were collected, has further reduced confidence that former populations remain.
Conservation priorities include systematic surveys, protection and restoration of remaining grasslands, careful management of fire and grazing, prevention of hunting, and cooperation with local communities. Because the species is so poorly known, confirming whether it survives at additional sites is an urgent research priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Manipur Bush Quail found?
It has a restricted historical range in northeastern India, especially Manipur, Assam and northern West Bengal. Some older records from Bangladesh and neighbouring areas remain uncertain.
Is the Manipur Bush Quail extinct?
It has not been declared extinct. A bird was reported from Manas National Park in Assam in 2006, but modern confirmed records are extremely limited, so its present population and distribution remain uncertain.
What habitat does the Manipur Bush Quail prefer?
It is associated mainly with damp, tall grassland, including elephant-grass stands, marshy areas and grassland mixed with scrub or moist foothill vegetation.
How can the Manipur Bush Quail be identified?
It is a small, short-tailed quail with dark barred upperparts, strongly marked buff underparts and a pale eye-line. Males have a conspicuous rufous-chestnut face and throat, while females are duller and greyer.
Is the Manipur Bush Quail endangered?
Yes. It is currently treated as Critically Endangered because of its restricted range, severe habitat loss and fragmentation, and the lack of recent reliable records.
Can visitors easily see this species in Manas National Park?
No. Manas is the best-documented modern locality, but the species is exceptionally elusive and its current presence is uncertain. Any search should be undertaken with park permission and without disturbing dense grassland habitat.
References
- BirdLife International
- State of India’s Birds
- Wildlife Institute of India
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