Barbary Partridge vs White-faced Partridge
Alectoris barbara compared with Arborophila orientalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | White-faced Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Arborophila orientalis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 28.5 cm (11.2 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 310.5 g (10.95 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of East Javan and Balinese montane forests. … |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Barbary Partridge
Loud, nasal 'kee-kee-kee-KARRR' calls from N African rocky terrain; slightly lower than Red-legged Partridge. Alarm is rapid cackling cackle. Pairs call in duet at dawn on rocky hillsides and scrub.
White-faced Partridge
Rising 'wheee-oo' whistle with clean, flute-like quality; calls from E Java mountains at dusk and dawn. Alarm produces sharp abrupt chips. Covey contact maintained with low rolling clucks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barbary Partridge
Resident of rocky hillsides, scrub, and coastal areas in North Africa (Morocco to Libya), Canary Islands, Sardinia, Gibraltar, and Madeira.
White-faced Partridge
Endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands of eastern Java, Bali, and Lombok. Found in montane and lowland forest.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
White-faced Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Barbary Partridge
Blue-grey upperparts; chestnut-spotted white flank bars; grey crown; rufous-brown collar with white spots; reddish-orange bill and legs; white face. Closely resembles Red-legged Partridge but collar spotted.
White-faced Partridge
Brown above; face and throat strikingly white contrasting with dark crown and neck; breast grey; flanks olive-grey streaked white; bare reddish eye-ring; extensive white on face is immediately distinctive.
About These Birds
Barbary Partridge
A medium Phasianidae partridge (~419 g) of rocky hillsides, scrub, and open slopes across North Africa, the Canary Islands, and Gibraltar. Grey-brown with a spotted chestnut-necklace pattern. Lives in pairs or small coveys; feeds on seeds, bulbs, and invertebrates. Least Concern; introduced as a gamebird in several regions.
White-faced Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~310 g) of family Phasianidae, with a distinctive white face and scaly brown upperparts. Found in montane forests of eastern Java and Bali. Inhabits highland broadleaved forest at 800–2,500 m elevation. Forages secretively on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Vulnerable; restricted to a small area of eastern Java and Bali with ongoing deforestation.