Crested Partridge vs Brown Quail
Rollulus rouloul compared with Synoicus ypsilophorus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Brown Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Synoicus ypsilophorus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 19.6 cm (7.7 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Feeds on grass seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Australian grassland and open scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 4-18 |
| 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.
Brown Quail
High, ascending two-note 'to-WHEEE'; second note sustained. Australian and SE Asian grasslands; calls from dense grass at dusk. Alarm is sharp 'pip' notes. Contact calls are soft rolling clucks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Brown Quail
Resident and nomadic across Australia (except arid interior), Indonesia, and New Guinea; also found in Timor and Lesser Sundas.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Brown Quail
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 …
Brown Quail
Dark rufous-brown above with buff shaft streaks and dark scalloping; pale buff below with dark brown streaking; darker than most quails; male has grey face and rufous underparts; female brownish …
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.
Brown Quail
A small Phasianidae quail (~110 g) of grassland, open woodland, and cereal crops across Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Brown and heavily streaked; runs strongly. Forms small flocks. Feeds on grass seeds and invertebrates. Nomadic in response to rainfall and food availability. Least Concern.