Hill Partridge vs Snow Partridge
Arborophila torqueola compared with Lerwa lerwa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hill Partridge | Snow Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila torqueola | Lerwa lerwa |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) | 37.3 cm (14.7 in) |
| Weight | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) | 581.5 g (20.51 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 2-7 |
| 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.
Snow Partridge
Series of clear, whistled 'wee-wee-wee-WEE' rising in pitch toward end. Alpine Himalayan species. Alarm is a harsh rattling chatter; call carries across open rocky terrain.
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.
Snow Partridge
Conservation Status
Hill Partridge
Snow Partridge
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.
Snow Partridge
Upperparts densely barred black-and-white creating snow-speckled pattern; underparts chestnut-red streaked white; bill and legs red; sexes similar. Striking barred upperparts adapt to rocky snow-line habitat.
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.
Snow Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~580 g) of family Phasianidae, with intricately barred black-and-white plumage and red bill and legs. Inhabits alpine and subalpine rocky slopes and meadows across the Himalayas and adjacent ranges at 3,000–5,000 m elevation. Forages for grass seeds, shoots, and insects. Least Concern; one of the highest-altitude dwelling partridges; well adapted to extreme cold and snow.