Hill Partridge vs Schlegel's Francolin
Arborophila torqueola compared with Campocolinus schlegelii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hill Partridge | Schlegel's Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila torqueola | Campocolinus schlegelii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) | — |
| Weight | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) | 237.0 g (8.36 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … | Feeds on seeds and invertebrates in West African savanna and gallery forest edge; poorly studied. |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 2-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Schlegel's Francolin
Rasping 'krek-krek-KREEK' repeated insistently; W-Central African forest-savanna species. Alarm is rapid harsh cackling. Pairs call in loose duet. Poorly studied relative to congeners.
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Schlegel's Francolin
Resident of forest-savanna mosaic and gallery forest in West and Central Africa from Sierra Leone to the Central African Republic.
Conservation Status
Hill Partridge
Schlegel's Francolin
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Schlegel's Francolin
Pale sandy-brown above with darker brown streaking; buff underparts with dark brown barring on flanks; whitish throat; yellowish legs and bill. Sexes similar; one of the smaller West African francolins.
About These Birds
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.
Schlegel's Francolin
A small Phasianidae francolin (~237 g) of rocky, grassy slopes and wooded savanna in Central and East Africa. Plumage is finely barred and streaked brown. Often found at higher elevations than related species. Feeds on seeds, berries, and small invertebrates. Least Concern; range largely away from intense agricultural pressure.