Factfile
Where they live
Southeastern Asian countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo
Habitat
Tropical lowland forests, woodlands and bamboo thickets
Size
Length 25-26cm
Weight
up to 200-230gm
Lifespan
10-12 years in the Zoo
Threats
They are listed as near threatened due to habitat loss through logging.
Did you know...
- Roul roul partridges use their feet to probe for insects, seeds, and fruit on the forest floor
- Roul roul chicks are fed bill to bill by their parents
More about roul roul partridges...
The roul roul partridge is also known as the crested wood partridge, red-crowned wood partridge, green wood quail or green wood partridge, and males are easily recognisable by their spectacular red crest.
This small, relatively plump partridge species is found in the lowland rainforests of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, where it lives singly or in pairs. Occasionally it may be found in larger groups of up to 15.
It feeds on fruit, seeds and invertebrates such as beetles, wood ants and snails. They are often found feeding on fragments of fruit dropped by wild pigs or feeding below trees where primates are feeding.
They feed on the ground but roost in trees at night. It has two main calls, a quiet one for keeping in touch with other birds and a loud call used when danger threatens. They usually prefer to run to escape predators but will fly short distances on rounded wings.
Roul roul partridges pair for life. They nest in a scrape in the ground which is covered with a complex dome structure of leaves and twigs in which the female is completely hidden from view. The female lays 5-6 white eggs which hatch after an incubation period of 18 days. The chicks stay with the parents for three months.
In the wild, habitat destruction by logging operations has lead to the roul roul partridge being listed as Near Threatened.
