Ferruginous Partridge vs Red-winged Francolin

Caloperdix oculeus compared with Scleroptila levaillantii

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Ferruginous Partridge Red-winged Francolin
Scientific Name Caloperdix oculeus Scleroptila levaillantii
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 28.3 cm (11.1 in) 32.5 cm (12.8 in)
Weight 210.5 g (7.43 oz) 448.75 g (15.83 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in South African grassland and fynbos; scratches soil.
Clutch Size 8-10 3-5
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Ferruginous Partridge only

Red-winged Francolin only

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.

Red-winged Francolin

Song

Ringing, emphatic 'keee-KRAK-keee' call series; S African highland grassland species. Alarm is explosive cackling with flush; rufous wing patches visible in flight. Pairs call antiphonally 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.

Red-winged Francolin

Resident of highland grassland and montane scrub in eastern South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal to Northern Cape) and Lesotho.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Ferruginous Partridge

Least Concern

Red-winged Francolin

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.

Red-winged Francolin

Plumage

Brown above with buff shaft streaks; white-streaked dark brown underparts; rufous-chestnut primaries diagnostic in flight; white throat; red bill; red legs in male, yellow in female. Grassland species.

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.

Red-winged Francolin

A medium Phasianidae francolin (~449 g) of montane grassland and open country in eastern and southern Africa. Rufous-red wing patches are conspicuous in flight. Inhabits high-altitude open grassland. Feeds on grass seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Calls loudly in the morning; forms loose groups. Least Concern.

More Birds to Explore