Tibetan Partridge vs Crested Partridge

Perdix hodgsoniae compared with Rollulus rouloul

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Tibetan Partridge Crested Partridge
Scientific Name Perdix hodgsoniae Rollulus rouloul
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Vulnerable
Length
Wingspan 30.8 cm (12.1 in) 27.2 cm (10.7 in)
Weight 372.0 g (13.12 oz) 250.5 g (8.84 oz)
Diet -- Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches …
Clutch Size 6-12 4-6
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Tibetan Partridge only

None

Crested Partridge only

Song & Call Comparison

Tibetan Partridge

Song

Harsh, grating 'kerrr-ik' calls repeated from high-altitude Tibetan scrub; somewhat similar to Grey Partridge but raspier. Alarm is sharp cackle. Pairs call antiphonally at dawn across plateau.

Crested Partridge

Song

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

Tibetan Partridge

Crested Partridge

Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Tibetan Partridge

Vulnerable

Crested Partridge

How to Tell Them Apart

Tibetan Partridge

Plumage

White face with bold black mask through eye; chestnut-orange flanks heavily barred white; grey crown and nape; brownish upperparts; white underparts with chestnut horseshoe patch on belly.

Crested Partridge

Plumage

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

Tibetan Partridge

A compact Phasianidae partridge (~372 g) inhabiting high-altitude scrub and grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent Himalayas, typically above 3,000 m. Flocks forage on seeds, shoots, and invertebrates. Tolerates harsh winters through tight covey roosting. 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.

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