Crested Partridge vs Shelley's Francolin
Rollulus rouloul compared with Scleroptila shelleyi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Shelley's Francolin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Scleroptila shelleyi |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 33.1 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 494.75 g (17.45 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in montane grassland and woodland of eastern Africa. |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 3-7 |
| 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.
Shelley's Francolin
Loud, sharp 'drink-lager' or 'krak-KEEK-krak' calls; E African highland grassland species. Alarm is rapid explosive cackle. Pairs call antiphonally. Heavy streaked flanks visible in flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Shelley's Francolin
Resident of open rocky hillsides, miombo woodland, and savanna from eastern DR Congo and Tanzania south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Shelley's 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 …
Shelley's Francolin
Dark brown above with bold buff shaft streaks; white below with prominent dark brown chevron markings on flanks and belly; white throat; rufous-chestnut primaries in flight; red bill and legs.
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.
Shelley's Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~495 g) of miombo woodland and grassy savanna across eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. Boldly streaked with chestnut and white. Loud, repetitive dawn calls characterise its presence. Feeds on seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Common in suitable woodland habitat; Least Concern.