Przevalski's Partridge vs New Zealand Quail
Alectoris magna compared with Coturnix novaezelandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Przevalski's Partridge | New Zealand Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris magna | Coturnix novaezelandiae |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.5 cm (13.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 553.0 g (19.51 oz) | 174.66666666666666 g (6.16 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, plant material, and invertebrates in rocky terrain of northwestern China and Central Asia. | Fed on seeds and invertebrates in New Zealand grassland; extinct since late 19th century. |
| Clutch Size | 7-20 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Przevalski's Partridge
Loud, resonant 'chuck-chuck-CHURR' calls from Chinese loess plateau and Qinghai rocky terrain; lower and slightly fuller than Chukar. Alarm is rapid harsh cackle. Pairs call in duet at dawn.
New Zealand Quail
Extinct since 1875; historical accounts describe a 'quail-like' whistled call from grassland. Likely similar to Common Quail 'wet-my-lips' but undocumented in detail. No recordings exist.
Geographic Range & Migration
Przevalski's Partridge
Resident of rocky semi-arid hillsides in northwestern China (Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang) and adjacent Mongolia, at 1,500–3,500 m.
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; formerly endemic to New Zealand (North and South Islands); last confirmed record 1875; habitat loss drove extinction.
Conservation Status
Przevalski's Partridge
New Zealand Quail
How to Tell Them Apart
Przevalski's Partridge
Large partridge; grey upperparts; white face and throat with narrow black gorget; broader and more distinct chestnut and white barring on flanks than Chukar; grey breast; red bill; larger overall …
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; male with rufous-buff underparts and dark brown streaking; white supercilium; darker crown. Female paler. Last recorded 1875; similar to Brown Quail.
About These Birds
Przevalski's Partridge
A large Phasianidae partridge (~553 g) of rocky semi-arid terrain and loess gullies in the Gansu corridor and adjacent Yellow River basin, northern China. Closely related to Chukar but notably larger. Feeds on seeds, leaves, and invertebrates. Tolerates cold winters; forms winter coveys. Least Concern.
New Zealand Quail
An extinct Phasianidae quail (~175 g) formerly endemic to open grasslands of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Last confirmed records date to 1875. Brown-streaked with rufous face markings. Extirpated by introduced predators, hunting, and habitat modification following European settlement. Now Extinct.