Przevalski's Partridge vs Silver Pheasant
Alectoris magna compared with Lophura nycthemera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Przevalski's Partridge | Silver Pheasant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris magna | Lophura nycthemera |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.5 cm (13.6 in) | 51.0 cm (20.1 in) |
| Weight | 553.0 g (19.51 oz) | 1345.0 g (47.44 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, plant material, and invertebrates in rocky terrain of northwestern China and Central Asia. | Feeds on seeds, berries, roots, invertebrates, and small animals; scratches forest floor in SE Asian … |
| Clutch Size | 7-20 | 6-12 |
| 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.
Silver Pheasant
Loud 'kork-KORK' crowing calls from SE Asian mountain forest; sharper and crisper than Common Pheasant. Alarm is explosive cackle. Wing-drumming audible at dawn. Contact clucks soft and guttural.
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.
Silver Pheasant
Resident of forest and secondary growth in southern China, mainland Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Vietnam, and Hainan; at sea level to 2,000 m.
Conservation Status
Przevalski's Partridge
Silver Pheasant
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 …
Silver Pheasant
Male striking white above with dense black vermiculations; glossy blue-black below; long white tail; black crest; red facial wattle. Female uniformly dark brown above; buff below with dark streaking.
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.
Silver Pheasant
A large, elegant Phasianidae pheasant (~1.35 kg) of mainland Southeast Asia and southern China. Males are strikingly patterned with a white-laced upper body, glossy black underparts, red facial skin, and a long white tail. Inhabits montane and foothill forests. Omnivorous diet; popular in aviculture. Least Concern.