The black partridge, also known as the black wood partridge, is a small partridge with a thick bill, grey legs and dark brown iris. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Melanoperdix.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland evergreen and mixed dipterocarp forests of the Malay Peninsula and on the Sundaic islands of Sumatra and Borneo (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei). It favors dense understory with thick leaf litter, often near streams, swampy patches, or bamboo thickets. The species uses both primary and older secondary forests but declines sharply with heavy disturbance. Populations are patchy where forests are fragmented.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The black partridge (black wood partridge) is a shy forest-dwelling galliform and the sole member of the monotypic genus Melanoperdix. It spends most of its time on the forest floor and is often detected by its calls rather than seen. Ongoing lowland rainforest loss and fragmentation are the primary threats, with localized hunting adding pressure.
Temperament
secretive and shy
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, explosive flushes
Social Behavior
Usually in pairs or small family coveys that keep to dense cover. Nests are simple ground scrapes hidden in thick vegetation. Clutches are small to moderate; the female primarily incubates while the male remains nearby and may guard. Family groups stay together for some time after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft, resonant whistles and repeated piping notes given from the forest floor or low perches. Alarm notes are sharp and clipped, while contact calls within pairs are quieter and more subdued.
Plumage
Strong sexual dimorphism: males are mostly glossy black with plain upperparts, females are warm rufous-brown with darker barring and mottling on the flanks and underparts. Plumage is tight and smooth, suited to moving through dense understory.
Diet
Forages on the ground for fallen seeds, small fruits, and shoots, supplemented with insects, termites, and other small invertebrates. It scratches through leaf litter to uncover food and will probe soft soil for hidden prey. Diet composition varies with fruiting and insect abundance across seasons.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of primary and mature secondary lowland forest, especially along stream edges, swampy patches, and bamboo thickets. Often remains close to cover, using tangles and thickets as feeding and escape routes.
