The globally endangered Sichuan partridge, also given the title of "the giant panda among birds," has been photographed for the first time in Meigu county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Photo: Sina Weibo

The globally endangered Sichuan partridge, also given the title of "the giant panda among birds," has been photographed for the first time in Meigu county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The Sichuan partridge was found in a Sichuan Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve, and this is the first time traces of its movement have been found since the establishment of the reserve in 1994, providing further evidence of the bird's distribution in the area.

This species, the first-level protected wild animal in China, is endemic to the mountainous areas of the southwestern part of the country and is only found in China. 

The Sichuan partridge has an extremely distinct feather color, and more peculiar is that it is the "master of language" among birds, with a very special call that varies with environments and moods, and can convey complex information. The male and female call and reply to each other in such a rhythmic way that sounds like singing folk songs.

With the continuous improvement of the environment, habitats of wild animals are gradually expanding. The reserve will continue to use advanced equipment to monitor the Sichuan partridge and other rare animals.