Crested Wood Partridge (Rollulus rouloul) (September 3, 2006)

The Crested Wood Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. This small partridge is a resident breeder in lowland rainforests in south Myanmar, south Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.

The Crested Wood Partridge is a rotund short-tailed bird with the male marginally larger than the female. Both sexes have a scarlet patch of bare skin around the eye and red legs without a spur or hind toe.

The male is metallic green above with glossy dark blue underparts and a brownish wing panel. The head is adorned with a tall red crest, a white forehead spot and black frontal bristles. The female has pea green body plumage apart from the brown wing coverts. She has a slate grey head with the bristles but no spot or crest. The bill is all-dark. Young birds are duller versions of the adult of the same sex. The song is a mournful whistled si-ul.

There is some concern about the effect of habitat destruction on this bird, especially with regard to logging. However, it seems to be somewhat more adaptable than other Southeast Asian pheasants. Ongoing habitat loss is impacting the Crested Wood Partridge.

Status: Near Threatened

Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Crested Wood Partridge (Rollulus rouloul) (September 3, 2006)

The Crested Wood Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. This small partridge is a resident breeder in lowland rainforests in south Myanmar, south Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.

The Crested Wood Partridge is a rotund short-tailed bird with the male marginally larger than the female. Both sexes have a scarlet patch of bare skin around the eye and red legs without a spur or hind toe.

The male is metallic green above with glossy dark blue underparts and a brownish wing panel. The head is adorned with a tall red crest, a white forehead spot and black frontal bristles. The female has pea green body plumage apart from the brown wing coverts. She has a slate grey head with the bristles but no spot or crest. The bill is all-dark. Young birds are duller versions of the adult of the same sex. The song is a mournful whistled si-ul.

There is some concern about the effect of habitat destruction on this bird, especially with regard to logging. However, it seems to be somewhat more adaptable than other Southeast Asian pheasants. Ongoing habitat loss is impacting the Crested Wood Partridge.

Status: Near Threatened

Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species