Crested Partridge

Crested partridges feed and nest on the ground, but roost in the trees at night (2) (5). These colourful birds can usually be seen in parties of five to fifteen individuals, foraging for food in the leaf-litter of the forest floor (4). There are reports of associations with wild pigs, with these birds feeding on discarded fragments of fruit that they would be unable to tackle whole. In addition to fruits, their diet includes seeds, large beetles, wood ants and small snails (2). The breeding season for this forest-dwelling bird varies throughout its range, and in some countries, breeding can continue for most of the year (2) (5). The nest may simply be a depression in dry leaves (5) or a large domed structure constructed of leaves and twigs by either the male or female (7). The female lays a clutch of five to six eggs, which she incubates alone for 18 to 19 days (in captivity), although both parents subsequently care for the hatchlings (2) (7).

This colourful, forest-dwelling bird is reported from several protected areas in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (2).

The male of this rather plump partridge bears a spectacular maroon crest and sports a glossy black plumage, which shimmers with green, blue and purple iridescence (2) (4). Contrasting starkly with this lustrous dark plumage is the vivid red colouration of the legs, feet, base of the beak, and bare skin encircling the eyes, as well as a conspicuous white forehead patch at the base of the crest (4). The female is very different from the male, but equally distinctive, with an olive-green body, chestnut-brown wings, grey head and black bill (2) (4). Like the male, the female has vivid red legs and feet and a circle of red skin around the eyes (5).

Found in broadleaved evergreen, dense primary forests and bamboo, mainly in lowland plains and foothills, but up to 1,550 metres in places (2) (6).

The crested partridge ranges across Southeast Asia, from south Myanmar and south-west Thailand, through Peninsular Malaysia to the islands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Borneo (2).

Classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and listed on Appendix III of CITES in Malaysia (3).

Once a widespread species, this forest-dwelling bird is threatened by the alarming rate of lowland deforestation throughout its range (2) (8). Fortunately, this resilient bird tolerates secondary, selectively-logged forest and remains locally common, even despite high hunting pressure in several areas (6) (8).

The roul-roul is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes.

This small partridge is a resident breeder in lowland rainforests in the Sundaic lowlands, including south Myanmar (Burma), south Tenasserim, peninsular south and south-west Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo and the Banka and Belitung islands, Indonesia (10). It is common in several areas, such as broadleaved evergreen and dense primary lowland and hill forests and bamboo, mainly in lowland plains and foothills, but up to 1,550 m in places (5,11). It can persist in selectively logged forest and utilise early-stage regenerating forest,

This rotund, short-tailed bird is 25 cm long; the male is marginally larger than the female. Both sexes have a scarlet patch of bare skin around the eye and vivid red legs without a spur or hind toe. The male has glossy black plumage, which shimmers with green, blue and purple iridescence (4,5). He has glossy dark blue underparts and a brownish wing panel. He bears a tall red or maroon crest and vivid red on the legs, feet, base of the beak and bare skin encircling the eyes, black frontal bristles and a white forehead patch at the base of the crest (4). The female has an olive-or pea-green body, chestnut-brown wing coverts, slate-grey head and black bill (4,5). Like the male, she has vivid red legs and feet and a circle of red skin around the eyes (6). She has bristles but no spot or crest. The roul-roul's song is a mournful whistled si-ul.

The roul-roul is usually seen singly or in pairs, but often forages in parties of 5-15 for food in the leaf-litter of the forest floor (4), using its feet to probe the forest floor for fruit, seeds and invertebrates.[2] When disturbed, it prefers to run, but if necessary it flies a short distance on its rounded wings. It feeds and nests on the ground, but roosts in trees at night (5,6). It seems to be more adaptable than other southeast Asian pheasants. There are reports of associations with wild pigs, with the birds feeding on discarded fragments of fruit that they could not tackle whole. The roul-roul also eats seeds, large beetles, wood ants and small snails (5). The breeding season varies throughout its range; in some countries, breeding can continue for most of the year (5,6). The nest is a ground scrape lined with dry leaves, concealed under a heap of leaf litter (5) or a large domed structure constructed of leaves and twigs by the male or female (7). The female lays 5-6 white eggs and incubates them for @ 18-19 days(5,7). The precocial young are fed bill-to-bill, by both parents instead of pecking from the ground, and roost in the nest while small (5,7). Young birds are duller versions of the adult of the same sex. There is some concern about the effect of lowland deforestation on this bird, especially with regard to logging and land conversion (5,8). The roul-roul is also being trapped for the cage-bird evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (9). It is listed on Appendix III of CITES (10). The population is continuing to decline, but the species is probably secure at present. It is fairly widespread across the Sundaic lowlands, where it is not uncommon (12). It is resilient and can use secondary growth and higher elevations and tolerate secondary, selectively-logged forest. It remains locally common and occurs in several protected areas in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (5,8,10,11).

The crested partridge (Rollulus rouloul) also known as the crested wood partridge, roul-roul, red-crowned wood partridge, green wood quail or green wood partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is the only member of the genus Rollulus.

This small partridge is a resident breeder in lowland rainforests in south Burma, south Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Its nest is a ground scrape lined with leaves, which is concealed under a heap of leaf litter. Five or six white eggs are incubated for 18 days.

Unusually for a galliform species, the young are fed bill-to-bill by both parents instead of pecking from the ground, and although precocial, they roost in the nest while small.

The crested partridge is a rotund short-tailed bird, 25 cm (9.8 in) in length, 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.

The crested partridge is usually seen singly or in pairs as it uses its feet to probe the forest floor for fruit, seeds and invertebrates. When disturbed, it prefers to run but if necessary it flies a short distance on its rounded wings.

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. The crested wood partridge is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix III of CITES.