Barbary Partridge vs Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
Alectoris barbara compared with Polyplectron inopinatum
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Mountain Peacock-Pheasant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Polyplectron inopinatum |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 477.0 g (16.83 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Feeds on seeds, fruits, and invertebrates in Malaysian montane forest; forages by scratching leaf litter. |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 2 |
| 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.
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
Clear, slightly plaintive 'kwee-oo' whistle from Malay Peninsula cloud forest; melodic for a peacock-pheasant. Male calls during display. Alarm is an abrupt 'kak'. Contact is quiet 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.
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
Endemic to the Malay Peninsula (Cameron Highlands area); resident of montane forest above 900 m; very poorly known.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Mountain Peacock-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.
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
Dark brown with white shaft streaking; circular iridescent greenish ocelli on wing coverts and tail; pinkish-red orbital skin; buff speckled face. Female similar with smaller ocelli; montane Malayan endemic.
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.
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
A medium-small Phasianidae pheasant (~477 g) restricted to montane mossy and oak forests above 1,000 m in the Malay Peninsula. Males are brown with sparse violet ocelli; plumage less ornamented than lowland relatives. Sedentary and secretive. Near Threatened from montane forest degradation.