Barbary Partridge vs Bulwer's Pheasant
Alectoris barbara compared with Lophura bulweri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Bulwer's Pheasant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Lophura bulweri |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 49.4 cm (19.4 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 1297.5 g (45.77 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Ground forager feeding on seeds, fallen fruit, invertebrates, and small animals in Bornean lowland rainforest. |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 1-5 |
| 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.
Bulwer's Pheasant
Loud, crow-like 'krak-krak' calls; Bornean endemic. Alarm is an explosive cackling rattle. Males display with erect white tail fans while calling. Contact between birds is guttural clucking.
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.
Bulwer's Pheasant
Endemic to montane and lowland forest in Sarawak and Sabah, Borneo; found from lowlands to 1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Bulwer's Pheasant
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.
Bulwer's Pheasant
Male entirely glossy blue-black; long pure white tail fans upward in display; legs red; striking cobalt-blue and red facial wattles greatly enlarged. Female warm reddish-brown with whitish shaft streaks.
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.
Bulwer's Pheasant
A large, bizarre Phasianidae pheasant (~1.3 kg) of lowland and hill forests in Borneo. Males display fleshy white facial wattles that can expand dramatically during courtship. Plumage is dark glossy blue. Diet includes seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Vulnerable from rapid deforestation of Bornean lowlands.