Ferruginous Partridge vs Grey Partridge
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Perdix perdix
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Grey Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Perdix perdix |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 30.2 cm (11.9 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 402.0 g (14.18 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Eats seeds, leaves, and shoots of grasses and cereals; chicks rely heavily on insects and … |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 2-24 |
| 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.
Grey Partridge
Harsh, grating 'kier-rr-ik' call; rusty hinge-like quality audible across farmland. Alarm is a cackling 'kee-kee-kee' when flushed. Male territorial call repeated at dusk and dawn across fields.
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.
Grey Partridge
Native to farmland, hedgerows, and open grassland from Britain east through Europe to Kazakhstan; widely introduced in North America and elsewhere.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Grey Partridge
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.
Grey Partridge
Grey-brown upperparts intricately vermiculated; orange-buff face and throat; grey breast; conspicuous dark chestnut horseshoe mark on lower breast of male; flanks barred chestnut and white. Sexes similar.
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.
Grey Partridge
A familiar Phasianidae partridge (~402 g) of European farmland and steppe, recognizable by an orange face and chestnut horseshoe patch on the belly of males. Lives in family coveys; feeds on seeds, cereal grain, and invertebrates. Declining in intensively farmed areas; Least Concern overall.