Ferruginous Partridge vs Stubble Quail

Caloperdix oculeus compared with Coturnix pectoralis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Ferruginous Partridge Stubble Quail
Scientific Name Caloperdix oculeus Coturnix pectoralis
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 28.3 cm (11.1 in) 20.0 cm (7.9 in)
Weight 210.5 g (7.43 oz) 100.5 g (3.55 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … Eats grass seeds, grain, and invertebrates in Australian cropland and native grassland.
Clutch Size 8-10 5-14
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Ferruginous Partridge only

Stubble Quail only

Song & Call Comparison

Ferruginous Partridge

Song

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.

Stubble Quail

Song

Distinctive 'two-to-WHIT' three-note call; slightly higher-pitched and more ringing than Common Quail. Australian croplands species calling from stubble fields. Alarm a soft 'pip'.

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.

Stubble Quail

Resident of dry grassland, stubble, and open farmland across southern and eastern Australia; nomadic, following rainfall.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Ferruginous Partridge

Least Concern

Stubble Quail

How to Tell Them Apart

Ferruginous Partridge

Plumage

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.

Stubble Quail

Plumage

Brown and buff streaked upperparts; pale buff underparts with bold dark brown streaking; male with orange-buff face and rufous throat; dark anchor marks on flanks. Female plainer; buff throughout with …

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.

Stubble Quail

A medium-small Phasianidae quail (~101 g) of cereal stubble, grassland, and heath across southern and eastern Australia. Brown-streaked; males have an orange face and rusty-streaked breast. Nomadic; exploits ephemeral seed crops. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Significant gamebird in Australia; Least Concern.

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