Ruffed Grouse vs Ferruginous Partridge
Bonasa umbellus compared with Caloperdix oculeus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruffed Grouse | Ferruginous Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bonasa umbellus | Caloperdix oculeus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.6 cm (14.4 in) | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) |
| Weight | 613.0 g (21.62 oz) | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) |
| Diet | Buds, catkins, and leaves of deciduous trees dominate diet in winter; berries, seeds, and invertebrates … | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 8-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Ruffed Grouse
Males produce deep, accelerating drumming with wings on hollow logs; thump-thump-thump-rrrrrr. Vocal calls include soft 'quit-quit'; alarm is a sharp 'pit'. Drumming carries up to 400 meters.
Ferruginous Partridge
Sharp, staccato 'krik-krik-krik' calls from lowland rainforest; often given in duet. Alarm is a loud, rapid chattering rattle; contact notes between pairs soft and clucking.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ruffed Grouse
Resident across boreal forests of North America from Alaska south to the Appalachians. Found in deciduous and mixed woodland. Largely sedentary.
Ferruginous Partridge
Resident in lowland rainforest of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found in flat or gently sloping lowland forest.
Conservation Status
Ruffed Grouse
Ferruginous Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Ruffed Grouse
Cryptic brown or grey morph; broad black ruff on neck sides; tail broadly banded grey with black subterminal bar; underparts barred buff and brown; red eye-comb; two colour morphs vary …
Ferruginous Partridge
Rich ferruginous (deep rusty-orange) overall; upperparts black-and-rufous barred; flanks black boldly spotted white; bare red facial skin; underparts rufous-orange; one of the most vividly coloured Southeast Asian partridges.
About These Birds
Ruffed Grouse
A medium-sized grouse (~610 g) of family Phasianidae, well camouflaged in brown and grey with a fan-shaped tail and neck ruff. Inhabits deciduous and mixed forests of North America. Males drum by beating wings to produce a distinctive booming sound. Feeds on buds, leaves, and berries. Least Concern; an important game bird across its broad North American forest range.
Ferruginous Partridge
A small partridge (~210 g) of family Phasianidae, with rich ferruginous (rust-red) plumage and spotted black-and-white markings. Inhabits lowland and foothill rainforests in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Secretive, foraging on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Near Threatened; associated with primary and tall secondary forest, declining with ongoing logging and land conversion.