Crested Francolin vs Crested Partridge
Ortygornis sephaena compared with Rollulus rouloul
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Francolin | Crested Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ortygornis sephaena | Rollulus rouloul |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 336.75 g (11.88 oz) | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in African savanna and dry scrub. | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 4-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Crested Francolin
Loud, insistent 'beer-and-cognac' or 'krrrr-KI-KI' calls repeated incessantly at dawn; African savanna species. Alarm is rapid cackling when flushed. Often runs with cocked tail before taking flight.
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
Crested Francolin
Resident of dry acacia scrub, woodland, and savanna from Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa and west to Senegal.
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Crested Francolin
Crested Partridge
How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Francolin
Dark brown above with buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; dark brown cap with slight crest often held raised; white supercilium; rufous tail; red legs. Sexes …
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
Crested Francolin
A small Phasianidae francolin (~337 g) of thornbush, riverine thickets, and dry woodland across sub-Saharan East and southern Africa. Named for the male's distinctive raised crest. Loud, repetitive calls at dusk are characteristic. Feeds on seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Common in suitable scrubby habitat; Least Concern.
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.