These species, a group of about 150 ground-dwelling gamebird, are found on every continent apart from Antarctica. They live in a wide variety of habitats from tropical forests, high-altitude alpine zones, temperate forests, open country, to desert environment. Although widespread, little is known of the species occuring outside Europe and North America, but several species are considered at grave risk of extinction. Since publication of the first action plan in 1995 a large increase in the amount and quality of conservation work has taken place. This document provides an update on the current situation, identifies the most threatened species with this group, prioritises conservation action needed, and outlines project briefs for the most urgent cases