Ferruginous Partridge vs Black Francolin
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Francolinus francolinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Black Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Francolinus francolinus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 389.5 g (13.74 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Feeds on seeds, grain, green shoots, invertebrates, and berries in farmland and scrubby habitats. |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 5-18 |
| 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.
Black Francolin
Loud, grating 'chee-keek-kee-keek' calls; Middle Eastern and South Asian species. Slightly musical with emphatic quality. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling. Males call from elevated perch at dawn.
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.
Black Francolin
Resident of farmland, scrub, and grassland from Cyprus and Turkey through the Middle East and South Asia to Myanmar and India.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Black Francolin
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.
Black Francolin
Male predominantly black with white cheek patch; chestnut collar; white-spotted flanks; rufous nape; red legs. Female dark brown with pale scaling; chestnut nape and crown; male pattern replaced by cryptic …
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.
Black Francolin
A medium-sized Phasianidae francolin (~390 g) of tall grass, cultivated fields, and scrub from the Mediterranean to South Asia. Males are striking: black body with white cheek patches and chestnut neck. Territorial males call persistently at dawn. Diet includes seeds, grass shoots, and invertebrates. Least Concern.