Sumatran Partridge vs Hill Partridge
Arborophila sumatrana compared with Arborophila torqueola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sumatran Partridge | Hill Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila sumatrana | Arborophila torqueola |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.2 cm (11.1 in) | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 336.0 g (11.85 oz) | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Sumatran montane forests. Scratches leaf litter … | 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
Sumatran Partridge
Resonant, slow 'phoo-WHEEE' whistle; Sumatran endemic with soft, slightly mournful tone. Calling bird remains concealed. Alarm note a quick repeated 'kik'; flock contact involves quiet murmuring.
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
Sumatran Partridge
Endemic to southern Sumatra in Lampung and South Sumatra provinces at 200-1,200 m. Found in lowland and hill 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
Sumatran Partridge
Hill Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Sumatran Partridge
Dark brown above with buff streaking; throat buff-white; breast grey-brown; flanks grey with white streaks; bare red eye-ring; Sumatran endemic with no bold colour features; cryptic forest floor colouring.
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
Sumatran Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~335 g) of family Phasianidae, with brownish plumage and scaly underparts. Endemic to Sumatra, inhabiting primary and secondary highland forests at 600–2,000 m elevation. Forages on the forest floor for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; Sumatra's mountain forests retain substantial cover in protected areas, supporting stable partridge populations.
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.