Barbary Partridge vs Chinese Bamboo-partridge
Alectoris barbara compared with Bambusicola thoracicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Chinese Bamboo-partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Bambusicola thoracicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 25.7 cm (10.1 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 270.25 g (9.53 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Feeds on seeds, berries, invertebrates, and plant shoots in bamboo thickets and scrub of China … |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 3-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Barbary Partridge only
Chinese Bamboo-partridge only
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.
Chinese Bamboo-partridge
Loud, rapid 'jiji-ji-jiji' calls; raucous and insistent from Chinese bamboo thickets. Alarm is explosive cackling. Popular cage bird for persistent calls. Contact notes softer between birds.
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.
Chinese Bamboo-partridge
Resident of bamboo, scrub, and forest edge in southeastern China, Taiwan, and Indochina; introduced to Japan and Hawaii.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Chinese Bamboo-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.
Chinese Bamboo-partridge
Brown upperparts with chestnut streaks; grey face and supercilium; chestnut-spotted buff flanks; white belly; grey breast; rufous-chestnut tail. Female similar but slightly smaller; lacks tarsal spur of male.
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.
Chinese Bamboo-partridge
A small, noisy Phasianidae partridge (~270 g) widespread in bamboo thickets, scrub, and woodland edges of eastern and central China. Brown and grey plumage provides camouflage in dense vegetation. Famous for its repeated 'kicking-your-bottom' call. Omnivorous; feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern.