Barbary Partridge vs Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Alectoris barbara compared with Pternistis hartlaubi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Hartlaub's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Pternistis hartlaubi |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 28.9 cm (11.4 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 246.25 g (8.69 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Forages for seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small animals in rocky Angolan hillside scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 4-8 |
| 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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Loud, harsh 'krak-krak-KRAAK' calls from NW African rocky bush; slightly nasal quality. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling when flushed. Pairs call in duet at dawn on rocky escarpments.
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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Resident of rocky hillsides with scrub and open woodland in southwestern Angola; restricted range.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Hartlaub'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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Dark brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; orange-red facial skin; yellow legs; no bare neck skin. Sexes similar; smaller than most spurfowl; …
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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
A small Phasianidae spurfowl (~246 g) of rocky hillside scrub and boulder-strewn savanna in Angola and Namibia. Plumage is intricately streaked and spotted brown-and-white. Pairs and family groups forage on the ground for seeds, roots, and invertebrates. Locally common in arid rocky terrain; Least Concern.