Ferruginous Partridge vs Buff-throated Partridge
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Tetraophasis szechenyii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Buff-throated Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Tetraophasis szechenyii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 44.1 cm (17.4 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 1170.0 g (41.27 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Forages on Tibetan and Sichuan alpine meadows for berries, seeds, moss, leaves, and invertebrates. Digs … |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 2-5 |
| 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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Repeated harsh, guttural 'churk-churk-CHURK' calls; slightly pheasant-like with raspy quality. Alpine Tibetan species; alarm is a loud single bark. Flock contact calls are low, rolling clucks.
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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Endemic to mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan, China at 3,000-4,500 m. Found in subalpine conifer forest and rhododendron scrub.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Buff-throated 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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Grey-brown above vermiculated; throat and breast buff-white; flanks grey with white streaking; bare red facial skin; tail chestnut; larger than Chestnut-throated and with buff rather than chestnut throat.
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.
Buff-throated Partridge
A large pheasant-partridge (~1.2 kg) of family Phasianidae, with buff-colored throat and grey-brown barred upperparts. Inhabits alpine and subalpine scrub, coniferous forest, and rocky slopes in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet, China at 3,200–4,500 m. Feeds on seeds, berries, leaves, and invertebrates. Least Concern; a high-altitude specialist of western China with stable remote populations.