Crested Partridge vs Buff-throated Partridge
Rollulus rouloul compared with Tetraophasis szechenyii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Buff-throated Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Tetraophasis szechenyii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 44.1 cm (17.4 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 1170.0 g (41.27 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Forages on Tibetan and Sichuan alpine meadows for berries, seeds, moss, leaves, and invertebrates. Digs … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 2-5 |
| 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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Repeated harsh, guttural 'churk-churk-CHURK' calls; slightly pheasant-like with raspy quality. Alpine Tibetan species; alarm is a loud single bark. Flock contact calls are low, 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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Endemic to mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan, China at 3,000-4,500 m. Found in subalpine conifer forest and rhododendron scrub.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Buff-throated Partridge
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 …
Buff-throated Partridge
Grey-brown above vermiculated; throat and breast buff-white; flanks grey with white streaking; bare red facial skin; tail chestnut; larger than Chestnut-throated and with buff rather than chestnut throat.
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.
Buff-throated Partridge
A large pheasant-partridge (~1.2 kg) of family Phasianidae, with buff-colored throat and grey-brown barred upperparts. Inhabits alpine and subalpine scrub, coniferous forest, and rocky slopes in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet, China at 3,200–4,500 m. Feeds on seeds, berries, leaves, and invertebrates. Least Concern; a high-altitude specialist of western China with stable remote populations.