Ferruginous Partridge vs Grey Peacock-Pheasant

Caloperdix oculeus compared with Polyplectron bicalcaratum

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Ferruginous Partridge Grey Peacock-Pheasant
Scientific Name Caloperdix oculeus Polyplectron bicalcaratum
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 28.3 cm (11.1 in) 40.2 cm (15.8 in)
Weight 210.5 g (7.43 oz) 479.75 g (16.92 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … Omnivorous forest floor forager; takes seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small vertebrates in mainland SE Asia.
Clutch Size 8-10 2-5
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Ferruginous Partridge only

None

Grey Peacock-Pheasant only

None

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.

Grey Peacock-Pheasant

Song

Loud, penetrating 'kow-WEE' whistle; most vocal of peacock-pheasants, ringing through SE Asian forest. Male calls while displaying ocellated tail. Alarm is sharp 'kak'. Heard at dawn and dusk.

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 Peacock-Pheasant

Resident of hill and montane forest from northeastern India and Bangladesh east through Myanmar to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Ferruginous Partridge

Least Concern

Grey Peacock-Pheasant

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.

Grey Peacock-Pheasant

Plumage

Grey-brown with buff-white shaft streaks and dark vermiculations; large oval iridescent green and purple ocelli on wing coverts and tail; white-scaled face; yellow orbital skin. Female similar but smaller ocelli.

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 Peacock-Pheasant

The most widespread Polyplectron peacock-pheasant (~480 g), inhabiting forest understorey from northeastern India through mainland Southeast Asia. Males are grey-brown peppered with violet-green ocelli. Forages on the ground for seeds, invertebrates, and small reptiles. Tolerates secondary forest; Least Concern.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family