Tan-breasted Partridge vs Hill Partridge
Arborophila rolli compared with Arborophila torqueola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tan-breasted Partridge | Hill Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila rolli | Arborophila torqueola |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.1 cm (11.1 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 336.0 g (11.85 oz) | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of northern Sumatran montane forests for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Little-studied … | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Tan-breasted Partridge
Clear, ringing 'wii-OO' whistle heard from Sumatra's foothills; second note drawn out. Poorly known; alarm a short sharp 'kek'. Covey contact maintained by soft, quiet clucks.
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
Tan-breasted Partridge
Endemic to northern Sumatra in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. Found in lowland and foothill forest below 1,000 m.
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
Tan-breasted Partridge
Hill Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Tan-breasted Partridge
Brown above; breast uniform tan-buff without chestnut or grey; throat whitish; flanks olive-brown streaked pale; bare reddish eye-ring; uniform tan breast is diagnostic against grey-breasted congeners.
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
Tan-breasted Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~335 g) of family Phasianidae, with plain tan-brown breast and muted brown upperparts. Endemic to the Natuna Islands of Indonesia. Inhabits tropical forest. Forages on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern; while restricted to small islands, remains stable; its insular endemism makes it vulnerable to future habitat clearance or introduced predators.
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.