| Luzon buttonquail | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Turnicidae |
| Genus: | Turnix |
| Species: | T. worcesteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Turnix worcesteri McGregor, 1904 | |
TheLuzon buttonquail (Turnix worcesteri) orWorcester's buttonquail, is a species ofbird in the familyTurnicidae. It isendemic to the island ofLuzon in thePhilippines. Its naturalhabitat is tropical high-altitudegrassland. This is the most mysterious bird of Luzon as there has only been 1 sighting in 2009 of a trapped individual being sold for bushmeat.
EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small, rare, little-known ground bird from the highland grasslands of Luzon. Overall brown, heavily patterned with dark-centered feathers overlaid with pale buff streaking. Shows variable amounts of rufous on the underparts, more extensive in the female, and some white in the throat and belly. Occurs together with Barred and Spotted Buttonquails and Blue-breasted Quail, but Luzon is somewhat smaller than those, especially Spotted, and has a thick, silver bill."[2]
It is named after American manager and zoologistDean Conant Worcester (1866-1924).
This species is monotypic but is sometimes considered conspecific with theSumba buttonquail and theCommon buttonquail it is distinguished from latter by plumage with a much blacker crown and dorsal feathers, much smaller size and, white chin and upper throat for females.
Barely anything is known about this bird. The stomach contents from a trapped bird contained insects.[3]
Its precise habitat is unknown but is believe to be wet grassy areas. Only moder record from a bushmeat market inDalton Pass in 2009. The Luzon buttonquail was known only from drawings and descriptions until January 2009 when a localbirdwatching group, theWild Bird Club of the Philippines, took photos and recorded a video of a lone specimen at a public market in theCaraballo Mountains.[4] The bird from Nueva Vizcaya, northern Luzon, appeared in a news feature by documentary filmmaker Howie Severino, a member of the GMA Network.[5][6]
IUCN has assessed this bird asData deficient but was formerly listed asVulnerable. Despite just having 1 record, it is believed that it may be especially cryptic and unobtrusive leading it to be under-recorded. Extensive research and study is required. However, it is likely that this species is threatened due to continued hunting and habitat conversion.[7]
Mark Niel Maceda 2007
