Barbary Partridge vs Erckel's Spurfowl
Alectoris barbara compared with Pternistis erckelii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Erckel's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Pternistis erckelii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 1258.6666666666667 g (44.40 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Eats seeds, grain, invertebrates, and plant matter in Ethiopian highland scrub, farmland, and grassland. |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 4-10 |
| 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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Very loud, deep 'KAK-kak-kak-KAAK' calls; largest spurfowl with powerful, resonant voice. E African highland species. Alarm is loud explosive cackle. Male calls carry 500+ m in forest.
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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Resident of rocky highland scrub, montane grassland, and Afroalpine habitat in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and adjacent Sudan, at 1,500–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Erckel's Spurfowl
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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Large spurfowl; dark brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; whitish below with dark brown streaking; chestnut crown distinctive; red facial skin; red-orange legs; no bare neck skin. Sexes similar; …
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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
One of the largest Phasianidae spurfowl (~1.26 kg), native to montane scrub and woodland in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and northern Somalia; introduced to Hawaii. Brown and white-streaked with a chestnut crown. Territorial; calls loudly at dawn. Feeds on seeds, bulbs, and invertebrates. Least Concern.