Collared Partridge vs Hill Partridge
Arborophila gingica compared with Arborophila torqueola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Collared Partridge | Hill Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila gingica | Arborophila torqueola |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.6 cm (10.9 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 286.5 g (10.11 oz) | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of southern Chinese hill forests. Scratches leaf … | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 3-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Collared Partridge
Melodic, slightly plaintive 'cu-WEE' whistle repeated at regular intervals from Chinese forest; carries well. Pairs often call in near-synchrony at dawn. Alarm note is an abrupt sharp 'kip'.
Hill Partridge
Repeated melodic whistle 'wi-WHEEEOO' rising and falling; pairs often duet. Males sing from hillside undergrowth at dawn. Alarm is a sharp, emphatic 'kek' or staccato clucking.
Geographic Range & Migration
Collared Partridge
Endemic to southeastern China in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Zhejiang at 200-1,500 m. Found in subtropical forest.
Hill Partridge
Resident in the Himalayas and hills of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and southern China at 1,000-3,500 m. Found in oak and rhododendron forest.
Conservation Status
Collared Partridge
Hill Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Collared Partridge
Brown above; white throat bordered by black collar band; grey breast with rufous streaking; flanks chestnut streaked white; bare red eye-ring; bold black collar below white throat is the key …
Hill Partridge
Male has orange-rufous face, white-spotted black throat collar, grey breast, and chestnut flanks streaked white on dark brown back. Female has brown face with buff streaking, less vivid collar.
About These Birds
Collared Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~285 g) of family Phasianidae, with a white collar and spotted brown plumage. Endemic to subtropical mountain forests in southeastern China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan). Forages on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Near Threatened; facing significant pressure from deforestation of lowland forest in southeastern China and hunting.
Hill Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~340 g) of family Phasianidae, with intricate rufous, black, and white patterning and an orange-rufous head. Inhabits subtropical and montane broadleaved forests and bamboo thickets in the Himalayas from Pakistan to southwestern China. Forages on the forest floor for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; common in Himalayan foothills.