The ferruginous partridge is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It belongs to the monotypical genus Caloperdix. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily from southern Myanmar and western Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia to parts of Indonesia, including Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. It favors primary and mature secondary evergreen forests with dense understory, often near bamboo, rattan, or thickets. Birds keep to shaded leaf-litter on the forest floor and use tangles for cover. It can persist in selectively logged forests if sufficient ground cover remains, but avoids highly degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This secretive, ground-dwelling partridge inhabits dense lowland and hill forests and is the sole member of its genus, Caloperdix. It often calls at dawn and dusk with far-carrying, whistled notes that help pairs keep contact in thick understory. Ongoing habitat loss and hunting pressure are key concerns across parts of its range.
Temperament
secretive and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, explosive flush
Social Behavior
Usually encountered in pairs or small family coveys that move quietly through dense understory. Nests are on the ground, hidden in vegetation, with both parents likely involved in chick care. Monogamous pairs maintain contact with soft calls while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, far-carrying whistles that may accelerate or rise slightly, often given at dawn and dusk. Calls can include duet-like exchanges between pair members.
Plumage
Rich ferruginous (rusty-chestnut) overall with fine black-and-white spotting and barring, especially on the wings and flanks, giving an ocellated look. Face is grayish to buff with a paler throat; underparts can show subtle scaling. The back and scapulars often show pale spots contrasting with darker edges.
Diet
Forages for seeds, fallen fruits, tender shoots, and a variety of invertebrates such as insects, termites, beetles, and small snails. It scratches through leaf-litter to uncover food and gleans from the ground surface. Diet composition varies seasonally with fruiting and insect abundance.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on the shaded forest floor in dense understory, along trails, stream edges, and bamboo or rattan thickets. It favors areas with deep leaf-litter and abundant cover for quick concealment.
