Madagascar Partridge vs Crested Partridge
Margaroperdix madagarensis compared with Rollulus rouloul
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Madagascar Partridge | Crested Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Margaroperdix madagarensis | Rollulus rouloul |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.2 cm (9.5 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 235.0 g (8.29 oz) | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) |
| Diet | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Madagascar's grassland, scrub, and forest edges. | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 8-20 | 4-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Madagascar Partridge
Loud, musical 'qui-QUI-qui' calls from Madagascar highland grassland; melodic and slightly liquid. Alarm is a rapid cackle when flushed. Contact calls between pairs are soft guttural clucks.
Crested Partridge
High-pitched, thin whistled 'seee' repeated persistently; metallic and insect-like. Males call from forest floor, rarely seen. Alarm is an explosive low grunt followed by rapid wing beats.
Geographic Range & Migration
Madagascar Partridge
Endemic to Madagascar; resident of open grassland, scrub, and cultivated areas from lowlands to 2,000 m.
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Madagascar Partridge
Crested Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Madagascar Partridge
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; male has rufous head with dark brown cap; white throat; pale buff underparts with dark chestnut barring on flanks. Female plain brown with fine …
Crested Partridge
Male is dark glossy green-black with vivid red-crimson erectile crest; red orbital skin; chestnut wings. Female is entirely bright emerald green with brown wings, red legs, and grey head; among …
About These Birds
Madagascar Partridge
A small Phasianidae partridge (~235 g) endemic to grassland and open scrub across the central highlands and western regions of Madagascar. Brown with intricate streaking; males have rufous face markings. Forages on the ground for seeds and invertebrates. Adapts to degraded habitats; Least Concern on Madagascar.
Crested Partridge
A small partridge (~250 g) of family Phasianidae, males with vivid crimson crest and iridescent green plumage. Found in lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Forages on the forest floor for fallen seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Vulnerable; dependent on primary lowland forest, heavily impacted by deforestation and palm oil expansion.