Rufous-throated Partridge vs Hill Partridge
Arborophila rufogularis compared with Arborophila torqueola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-throated Partridge | Hill Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila rufogularis | Arborophila torqueola |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 298.1666666666667 g (10.52 oz) | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of South and Southeast Asian hill forests for seeds, invertebrates, and small … | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … |
| Clutch Size | 4-8 | 3-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rufous-throated Partridge
Rich, repeated 'who-WHEEE-oo' whistle with slight burry quality; resonant and far-carrying. Male calls persistently at dawn in SE Asian forests. Alarm a rapid staccato 'kik-kik' series.
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
Rufous-throated Partridge
Resident in the foothills and hills of the eastern Himalayas and Indochina from Nepal east to southern China and Vietnam at 300-2,400 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
Rufous-throated Partridge
Hill Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-throated Partridge
Brown above with black-and-buff streaking; throat bright rufous-orange; breast grey with rufous mottling; flanks grey streaked white; bare red eye-ring; rufous throat patch is the distinguishing feature.
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
Rufous-throated Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~300 g) of family Phasianidae, with a rufous throat and intricate brown plumage. Inhabits subtropical and lower montane forests from northeastern India and Bangladesh through Myanmar to southwestern China and northern Indochina. Forages on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern; widespread in lower Himalayan and Southeast Asian mountain forests.
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.