Ferruginous Partridge vs Dusky Grouse
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Dendragapus obscurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Dusky Grouse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Dendragapus obscurus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 45.3 cm (17.8 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 1118.0 g (39.44 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Eats conifer needles, especially fir and pine, in winter; berries, leaves, and invertebrates in summer. … |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 4-10 |
| 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.
Dusky Grouse
Low, deep hooting 'hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo' by males from conifer branches; ventriloquial and owl-like. Alarm is a sharp series of 'kuk-kuk' clucks. Female produces soft clucking contact notes.
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.
Dusky Grouse
Resident in the Rocky Mountains and coastal ranges of western North America from British Columbia south to New Mexico at 1,000-3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Dusky 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.
Dusky Grouse
Male dark greyish-brown overall; pale grey tail with broad grey terminal band; yellow-orange eye-comb; bare yellow-purple neck air sacs visible in display. Female mottled brown and buff with darker barring.
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.
Dusky Grouse
A large grouse (~1.1 kg) of family Phasianidae, males dark grey with yellow-orange eyecomb and inflatable violet neck sacs. Inhabits montane coniferous forests in the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to New Mexico. Feeds on conifer needles in winter, berries and insects in summer. Exhibits elevational migration. Least Concern; common in western North American mountain forests.