Barbary Partridge vs Asian Blue Quail
Alectoris barbara compared with Synoicus chinensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Asian Blue Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Synoicus chinensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Eats small seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in grassland and open scrub of Asia and … |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 4-9 |
| 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.
Asian Blue Quail
Very high-pitched, thin 'wee-wee-wee' whistle; tiny quail with soft, subtle voice. Contact calls in covey are quiet, rolling clucks. Alarm is a sharp 'pip'. Often only detected by very thin …
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.
Asian Blue Quail
Resident and nomadic across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines, and south to Australia; inhabits grassland and crops.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Asian Blue 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.
Asian Blue Quail
Male blue-grey with chestnut-brown sides; white and black patterned throat and face; chestnut flanks. Female brown with buff streaking throughout; lacks blue-grey of male; one of world's smallest quails.
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.
Asian Blue Quail
The world's smallest gamebird (~38 g), family Phasianidae, inhabiting tall grasses and paddy edges across South and Southeast Asia to Australia. Males have sky-blue face and throat with a black-and-white necklace. Feeds on tiny seeds and small invertebrates. Remarkably inconspicuous despite its tiny size. Least Concern.