Hill Partridge vs Double-spurred Spurfowl
Arborophila torqueola compared with Pternistis bicalcaratus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hill Partridge | Double-spurred Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila torqueola | Pternistis bicalcaratus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.3 cm (10.7 in) | 34.1 cm (13.4 in) |
| Weight | 342.0 g (12.06 oz) | 444.0 g (15.66 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on Himalayan forest floor for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Scratches leaf litter in … | Feeds on seeds, berries, invertebrates, and plant material in West African savanna and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 4-8 |
| 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.
Double-spurred Spurfowl
Strident crowing series of raspy 'ka-wee' notes; noisy duets at dawn; alarm call a sharp clucking 'kek-kek-kek'
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.
Double-spurred Spurfowl
Resident of open woodland, forest edge, and moist savanna in West Africa from Senegal and Gambia east to Togo and Benin.
Conservation Status
Hill Partridge
Double-spurred Spurfowl
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.
Double-spurred Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; whitish below with dark brown streaking; red bill; red orbital skin; yellow legs; male with two prominent tarsal spurs diagnostic. West African species; …
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.
Double-spurred Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~444 g) of West African forests and forest edges from Senegambia to Ghana. Named for the two spurs on each leg. Brown and white-streaked; red facial skin. Inhabits secondary growth and woodland-grassland margins. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates; forages in small groups. Least Concern.