Barbary Partridge vs White-tailed Ptarmigan
Alectoris barbara comparé à Lagopus leucura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Barbary Partridge | White-tailed Ptarmigan |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Alectoris barbara | Lagopus leucura |
| Ordre | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Famille | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 32,6 cm (12.8 in) | 34,6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Poids | 418,5 g (14.76 oz) | 361,8 g (12.76 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Feeds on seeds, berries, shoots, and invertebrates in North African scrub, rocky terrain, and farmland. | Eats alpine willow and heather buds and leaves; switches to berries and insects in summer. … |
| Taille de la couvée | 6-27 | 2-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Barbary Partridge
Loud, nasal 'kee-kee-kee-KARRR' calls from N African rocky terrain; slightly lower than Red-legged Partridge. Alarm is rapid cackling cackle. Pairs call in duet at dawn on rocky hillsides and scrub.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Soft, chicken-like clucking 'ko-ko-ko'; quiet relative to other ptarmigan. Alarm is a sharp 'kek' series. Males give low, croaking calls on alpine tundra at dawn. Flock contact is muted burbling.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barbary Partridge
Resident of rocky hillsides, scrub, and coastal areas in North Africa (Morocco to Libya), Canary Islands, Sardinia, Gibraltar, and Madeira.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Breeds in alpine tundra from Alaska south through the Rockies to New Mexico. Largely resident, descending to lower elevations in winter.
Statut de conservation
Barbary Partridge
White-tailed Ptarmigan
How to Tell Them Apart
Barbary Partridge
Blue-grey upperparts; chestnut-spotted white flank bars; grey crown; rufous-brown collar with white spots; reddish-orange bill and legs; white face. Closely resembles Red-legged Partridge but collar spotted.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Winter: entirely white; summer: back and breast mottled brown-and-white; tail always white, unlike other ptarmigans; red eye-comb; feathered feet white year-round. All-white tail in all seasons is unique.
About These Birds
Barbary Partridge
A medium Phasianidae partridge (~419 g) of rocky hillsides, scrub, and open slopes across North Africa, the Canary Islands, and Gibraltar. Grey-brown with a spotted chestnut-necklace pattern. Lives in pairs or small coveys; feeds on seeds, bulbs, and invertebrates. Least Concern; introduced as a gamebird in several regions.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
The smallest ptarmigan (~360 g) of family Phasianidae; the only ptarmigan with a white tail year-round. Inhabits alpine tundra and rocky slopes above treeline in the Rocky Mountains from Alaska to New Mexico. Plumage turns all-white in winter for camouflage. Feeds on willows, sedges, and berries. Least Concern; well adapted to extreme mountain environments but vulnerable to climate warming.