Ferruginous Partridge vs Himalayan Quail
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Ophrysia superciliosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Himalayan Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Ophrysia superciliosa |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 17.6 cm (6.9 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 189.7 g (6.69 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | -- |
| 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.
Himalayan Quail
Almost certainly extinct; last recorded 1876. Historical accounts describe 'plaintive whistled calls' from Himalayan hill grass. No recordings exist. Likely soft high whistle like other hill quail.
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.
Himalayan Quail
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Himalayan Quail
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.
Himalayan Quail
Male dark grey with white spots and streaks; bold white supercilium; red bill. Female pale brownish-buff with dark brown streaking; pale supercilium. Last confirmed 1876; presumed possibly extinct; Uttarakhand hills.
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.
Himalayan Quail
One of the world's most elusive birds, this Phasianidae quail (~190 g) is last confirmed from the western Himalayas in 1876 and may be extinct. A medium-sized quail of steep grassy hill slopes with a distinctive red bill. Presumed to feed on grass seeds. Critically Endangered; possibly extinct.