Crested Partridge vs Orange River Francolin
Rollulus rouloul compared with Scleroptila gutturalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Orange River Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Scleroptila gutturalis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 407.3333333333333 g (14.37 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in semi-arid karoo and open scrub of southern … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 3-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Orange River Francolin
Repetitive 'kree-kree-krak' calls from Karoo scrubland; slightly thinner than Grey-winged Francolin. Alarm explosive cackling. S African arid species calling at dawn. Contact clucking.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Orange River Francolin
Resident of dry karoo scrub, grassy hillsides, and stony plains in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Orange River Francolin
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Orange River Francolin
Pale sandy-brown above with buff streaks; white underparts boldly streaked dark brown; white throat; rufous primary patch in flight; yellow-orange bill; red legs. Very similar to Red-winged Francolin but paler.
About These Birds
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.
Orange River Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~407 g) of dry thornveld and sparse scrub along the Orange River basin and Karoo of South Africa and Namibia. Pale rufous-streaked plumage blends with arid surroundings. Feeds on seeds, grass, and invertebrates; forages in pairs or small groups. Least Concern in arid range.