Ferruginous Partridge vs Gunnison Grouse
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Centrocercus minimus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Gunnison Grouse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Centrocercus minimus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 57.0 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 1575.0 g (55.56 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Highly dependent on sagebrush for winter foliage; eats forbs and invertebrates in spring and summer. … |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 6-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Gunnison Grouse
Lek display similar to Sage Grouse but faster and higher-pitched: 'swish-swish-ploop-ploop'; 9-note sequence vs. 7 in Sage Grouse. Plume rattle more pronounced. Alarm is harsh cacking.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ferruginous Partridge
Resident in lowland rainforest of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found in flat or gently sloping lowland forest.
Gunnison Grouse
Endemic to Gunnison Basin and adjacent areas of southwestern Colorado. Found in sagebrush habitat. Critically endangered.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Gunnison Grouse
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Gunnison Grouse
Male similar to Sage Grouse but smaller; black belly, white breast, spiky tail with more white barring; prominent white neck filoplumes; yellow eye-combs; yellow-green breast air sacs used in display.
About These Birds
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.
Gunnison Grouse
A large grouse (~1.6 kg) of family Phasianidae, closely related to Sage Grouse but smaller with longer filoplumes during lek display. Restricted to the Gunnison Basin of southwestern Colorado and a small area of Utah. Entirely dependent on intact sagebrush habitat. Endangered; one of North America's rarest birds with fewer than 5,000 individuals, threatened by habitat fragmentation and drought.