Barbary Partridge vs Annamite Crested Argus
Alectoris barbara compared with Rheinardia ocellata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Annamite Crested Argus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Rheinardia ocellata |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 67.1 cm (26.4 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 1500.0 g (52.91 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Forages on leaf litter for fallen fruits, seeds, invertebrates, and small animals; uses feet to … |
| 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.
Annamite Crested Argus
Loud, mournful 'kow-WEE' whistling cries from Vietnam rainforest floor; haunting and fox-like. Males call from log or elevated perch. Alarm is explosive cackle. One of world's rarest galliform voices.
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.
Annamite Crested Argus
Resident of dense montane forest in the Annamite Mountains of Laos and Vietnam, above 400 m; extremely secretive.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Annamite Crested Argus
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.
Annamite Crested Argus
Brown and buff intricately patterned with ocelli; long broad graduated tail with dark ocellated spots; white-streaked dark crest; bare blue facial skin. Sexes similar but male with much longer tail.
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.
Annamite Crested Argus
One of the most spectacular Phasianidae birds (~1.5 kg), endemic to evergreen forests of Vietnam and Laos. Males possess extraordinary elongated brown-spotted tail feathers. Performs a solitary lekking display on cleared forest arenas. Feeds on fallen fruits and invertebrates. Critically Endangered from deforestation.