Barbary Partridge vs New Zealand Quail
Alectoris barbara compared with Coturnix novaezelandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | New Zealand Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Coturnix novaezelandiae |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | — |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 174.66666666666666 g (6.16 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Fed on seeds and invertebrates in New Zealand grassland; extinct since late 19th century. |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | -- |
| 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.
New Zealand Quail
Extinct since 1875; historical accounts describe a 'quail-like' whistled call from grassland. Likely similar to Common Quail 'wet-my-lips' but undocumented in detail. No recordings exist.
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.
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; formerly endemic to New Zealand (North and South Islands); last confirmed record 1875; habitat loss drove extinction.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
New Zealand Quail
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.
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; male with rufous-buff underparts and dark brown streaking; white supercilium; darker crown. Female paler. Last recorded 1875; similar to Brown Quail.
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.
New Zealand Quail
An extinct Phasianidae quail (~175 g) formerly endemic to open grasslands of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Last confirmed records date to 1875. Brown-streaked with rufous face markings. Extirpated by introduced predators, hunting, and habitat modification following European settlement. Now Extinct.