Chestnut-breasted Partridge vs Hill Partridge
Arborophila mandellii compared with Arborophila torqueola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chestnut-breasted Partridge | Hill Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila mandellii | Arborophila torqueola |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.9 cm (10.2 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 268.0 g (9.45 oz) | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Eastern Himalayan and Tibetan foothill forests for seeds, invertebrates, and small … | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … |
| Clutch Size | 4 | 3-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Chestnut-breasted Partridge
Ringing, whistled 'whi-WHEOO' in pairs or series; melodic and clear. Found in Himalayan foothills; male sings from dense bamboo. Alarm is a low guttural 'krrk-krrk' rapidly repeated.
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
Chestnut-breasted Partridge
Resident in the eastern Himalayas of Bhutan, India (Arunachal Pradesh), and southern Tibet at 1,500-2,700 m. Found in dense 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
Chestnut-breasted Partridge
Hill Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Chestnut-breasted Partridge
Brown above; large chestnut breast patch; throat white bordered by black band; flanks grey with white streaks; bare red eye-ring; chestnut breast separated from grey flanks by clear demarcation.
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
Chestnut-breasted Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~270 g) of family Phasianidae, with a chestnut breast and finely barred plumage. Inhabits subtropical and montane forests in the eastern Himalayas from northeastern India through Bhutan to southwestern China. Forages for seeds and invertebrates on the forest floor. Near Threatened due to forest loss and hunting across its Himalayan foothill range.
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.