Crested Partridge vs Greater Prairie-chicken
Rollulus rouloul compared with Tympanuchus cupido
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Greater Prairie-chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Tympanuchus cupido |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 872.25 g (30.77 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Eats grass seeds, buds, berries, acorns, and invertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie. Insects critical … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 5-17 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Crested Partridge only
None
Greater Prairie-chicken only
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.
Greater Prairie-chicken
Males boom 'ooo-OOO-ooo' from inflated orange air sacs on lek; haunting, foghorn-like resonance audible 2+ km. Alarm is a sharp cackle; females give soft clucking calls to chicks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Greater Prairie-chicken
Resident in tallgrass prairies of the north-central United States and southern Canada. Found in native prairie. Vulnerable and declining.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Greater Prairie-chicken
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 …
Greater Prairie-chicken
Strongly barred brown and buff throughout; rounded dark tail; males have elongated dark pinnae feathers on neck; orange eye-comb; orange neck sacs inflated during display; females lack pinnae.
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.
Greater Prairie-chicken
A medium-sized grouse (~870 g) of family Phasianidae, with barred brown plumage and elongated pinnate feathers raised during lek displays. Males inflate orange air sacs and boom loudly at communal leks. Inhabits native tallgrass prairies of central North America. Feeds on grain, seeds, and insects. Near Threatened; dramatic population collapse due to tallgrass prairie conversion and fragmentation.