Voice
A whistled 'teedli teedli'. Also a soft low-pitched call and an explosive cry when alarmed. Calls frequently in the mornings, perhaps most regularly during the rainy season, when breeding peaks.
Udzungwa Forest Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis) [XC417746]
by Stephen Lowe from , Tanzania (song)
Udzungwa Forest Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis) [XC304155]
by Frank Lambert from , Tanzania (song)
Subspecies
Xenoperdix udzungwensis (Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993) was split into Xenoperdix udzungwensis and Xenoperdix obscurata by Bowie and Fjeldsa (2005), but this treatment is not followed by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group.
Originally thought to be an aberrant species of forest francolin, but extensive taxonomic study indicates that present species is probably most closely related to the Asiatic genus Arborophila.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
udzungwensis Dinesen, Lehmberg, Svendsen, Hansen et al., 1994 - Udzungwa Mountains of southern Tanzania.
obscurata Fjeldså and Kiure, 2003 - Southern Tanzania (Maf-wemiro forest in Rubeho highlands). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Rubeho Forest-Partridge (Xenoperdix obscuratus).
Similar Species
Scaly Francolin (Pternistis squamatus) which is larger and much darker overall, but this species does not penetrate forest.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet