Barbary Partridge vs Reeves's Pheasant
Alectoris barbara compared with Syrmaticus reevesii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barbary Partridge | Reeves's Pheasant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris barbara | Syrmaticus reevesii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 49.6 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 418.5 g (14.76 oz) | 1239.0 g (43.70 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Forages on seeds, grain, berries, roots, and invertebrates; scratches and digs in forest floor leaf … |
| Clutch Size | 6-27 | 6-15 |
| 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.
Reeves's Pheasant
Loud, crow-like 'ga-ga-GAAK' crowing call; slightly higher than Common Pheasant. Chinese mountain forest species. Alarm is rapid explosive cackle and wing-beating display. Contact calls soft 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.
Reeves's Pheasant
Native to mountain forest and scrubland in central and northern China; introduced and established in parts of Europe and North America.
Conservation Status
Barbary Partridge
Reeves's 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.
Reeves's Pheasant
Male boldly patterned: white head with black mask; golden-yellow and black scalloped body; white-barred brown wings; extraordinarily long silvery-grey tail with black barring up to 2.4 m. Female mottled brown.
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.
Reeves's Pheasant
A large Phasianidae pheasant (~1.24 kg) of central China's deciduous mountain forests, notable for the male's spectacular tail reaching up to 2.4 m. Forages on seeds, bulbs, and berries on forested slopes. Introduced populations exist in Europe. Vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting.