Rowley's quail (Cyrtonyx sallei rowleyi), also known as the southern Salle's quail, Sierra de Miahuatlán quail, or the Sierra de Miahuatlán Salle's quail is a subspecies of Salle's quail that is endemic to the Sierra de Miahuatlán of Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico.[1]
Rowley's quail was originally listed under Cyrtonyx montezumae (Montezuma quail), with Cyrtonyx montezumae sallei (now Cyrtonyx sallei) having very similar traits, for both subspecies were of a southern type. Cyrtonyx montezumae sallei then became Cyrtonyx sallei (Salle's quail), with Rowley's quail becoming a subspecies of Salle's quail (which did not have the necessary requirements to be an actual species).
Rowley's quail is native to the Sierra de Miahuatlán (smaller-sized mountain range) within Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico, with some scattered individuals present in other nearby areas. Its range is made up of high-mountainous grasslands, and pine-oak forests, at upward elevations of 1,060-3,000 m in some parts of the mountain range.[2]
Rowley's quail is under threat of deforestation, wildfires, poaching, and agricultural land clearance in its natural range. Other semi-common threats may include hunting and/or habitat destruction.[3]