Rufous-throated Partridge vs Indian Peafowl

Arborophila rufogularis compared with Pavo cristatus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Rufous-throated Partridge Indian Peafowl
Scientific Name Arborophila rufogularis Pavo cristatus
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 195.0 cm (76.8 in)
Wingspan 27.0 cm (10.6 in) 160.0 cm (63.0 in)
Weight 298.1666666666667 g (10.52 oz) 5000.0 g (176.37 oz)
Diet Forages on floor of South and Southeast Asian hill forests for seeds, invertebrates, and small … Omnivorous — seeds, berries, insects, small vertebrates, and cultivated crops. Forages on the ground in …
Clutch Size 4-8 3-8
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Rufous-throated Partridge
Indian Peafowl 195.0 cm
Wingspan
Rufous-throated Partridge 27.0 cm
Indian Peafowl 160.0 cm
Weight
Rufous-throated Partridge 298.1666666666667 g
Indian Peafowl 5000.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Rufous-throated Partridge only

None

Indian Peafowl only

None

Indian Peafowl

Open forests, farmland, and areas near water in the Indian subcontinent. Highly adaptable and common near human settlements.

Song & Call Comparison

Rufous-throated Partridge

Song

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.

Indian Peafowl

Song

Loud, harsh, repetitive 'may-AWE' screaming call, audible over great distances. Display calls are a mewing 'aaaow'. Peacocks call persistently at dawn and before rain.

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.

Indian Peafowl

Indian subcontinent including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Feral populations worldwide.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Rufous-throated Partridge

Least Concern

Indian Peafowl

How to Tell Them Apart

Rufous-throated Partridge

Plumage

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.

Indian Peafowl

Plumage

Males (peacocks) have iridescent blue-green plumage and an enormous train of elongated upper tail coverts with eye-spots. Females (peahens) are brown and cryptically patterned.

Bill

Short, stout, greyish-horn bill

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.

Indian Peafowl

The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India and one of the most spectacular birds in the world. The peacock's enormous train, which can span over two meters, is used in elaborate courtship displays where the feathers are fanned and vibrated. Despite their size, peafowl can fly short distances and roost in tall trees.

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