Barbary Partridge vs Himalayan Quail
Alectoris barbara compared with Ophrysia superciliosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Himalayan Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Ophrysia superciliosa |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 17.6 cm (6.9 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 189.7 g (6.69 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Presumed to feed on seeds and invertebrates in Himalayan montane scrub; critically endangered, diet poorly … |
| 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.
Himalayan Quail
Almost certainly extinct; last recorded 1876. Historical accounts describe 'plaintive whistled calls' from Himalayan hill grass. No recordings exist. Likely soft high whistle like other hill quail.
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.
Himalayan Quail
Known only from 19th-century specimens from Uttarakhand, India (Mussoorie and Nainital); possibly extinct with no confirmed records since 1876.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Himalayan 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.
Himalayan Quail
Male dark grey with white spots and streaks; bold white supercilium; red bill. Female pale brownish-buff with dark brown streaking; pale supercilium. Last confirmed 1876; presumed possibly extinct; Uttarakhand hills.
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.
Himalayan Quail
One of the world's most elusive birds, this Phasianidae quail (~190 g) is last confirmed from the western Himalayas in 1876 and may be extinct. A medium-sized quail of steep grassy hill slopes with a distinctive red bill. Presumed to feed on grass seeds. Critically Endangered; possibly extinct.