| Hangwachtel, Ophrysia superciliosa |
| Searching for Mountain Quails,
Ophrysia superciliosa
by Ingo RIEGER and Doris WALZTHÖNY
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Abstract: We visited the areas in the Himalayas where Mountain Quails were shot in the last century, we studied the available literature on this species and examined nearly 50 percent of all museum specimens. Based on these data, we believe that there are no chances to find Mountain Quails in the areas where they were collected between 1836 and 1876. But we think it is worth trying to look for Mountain Quails in the Lower Himalaya north of the ridge Mussoorie - Nainital.
Mountain Quails, Ophrysia superciliosa, are known from only nine specimens, shot within 40 years after 1836 at only two places, Mussoorie and Nainital, in the Lesser Himalayas. We visited these areas. We studied the available literature on this species, examined more than half of all specimens. We photographed or have seen photographs of all nine specimens. Based on these data, we believe that there are no chances to find Mountain Quails in the areas where they were collected between 1836 and 1876. But we think it is worth trying to look for Mountain Quails in the Lower Himalaya north of the ridge Mussoorie - Nainital.
Key words: Mountain Quail, Himalayas,
extinct species, threatened species, re-discovery