Crested Partridge vs Red-winged Francolin
Rollulus rouloul compared with Scleroptila levaillantii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Red-winged Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Scleroptila levaillantii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 32.5 cm (12.8 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 448.75 g (15.83 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in South African grassland and fynbos; scratches soil. |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 3-5 |
| 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.
Red-winged Francolin
Ringing, emphatic 'keee-KRAK-keee' call series; S African highland grassland species. Alarm is explosive cackling with flush; rufous wing patches visible in flight. Pairs call antiphonally at dawn.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Red-winged Francolin
Resident of highland grassland and montane scrub in eastern South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal to Northern Cape) and Lesotho.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Red-winged 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 …
Red-winged Francolin
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; white-streaked dark brown underparts; rufous-chestnut primaries diagnostic in flight; white throat; red bill; red legs in male, yellow in female. Grassland species.
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.
Red-winged Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~449 g) of montane grassland and open country in eastern and southern Africa. Rufous-red wing patches are conspicuous in flight. Inhabits high-altitude open grassland. Feeds on grass seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Calls loudly in the morning; forms loose groups. Least Concern.