Caucasian Snowcock
Tetraogallus caucasicus
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="tetraogallus-caucasicus"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/tetraogallus-caucasicus/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/tetraogallus-caucasicus/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/tetraogallus-caucasicus/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="tetraogallus-caucasicus"></birdfyi-bird>The Caucasian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus) is a bird species in the family Phasianidae (pheasants & partridges), within the order Galliformes (gamebirds). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 51.4 cm and a weight of 2 kg. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
On this page
About
A large Phasianidae snowcock (~2.03 kg) endemic to the alpine zones of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus above treeline. White belly and grey back; reddish-orange lateral stripes. Forages on alpine plants, seeds, and invertebrates. Forms small winter flocks that descend slightly in heavy snow. Least Concern.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 51.4 cm | 20.2 in |
| Weight | 2030.0 g | 71.61 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Grey-brown above with buff shaft streaks; white breast and belly; grey breast band; rufous-brown flank streaks; white outer rectrices; face pattern of white cheek with dark ear patch. Sexes alike.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Endemic to the Caucasus Mountains; resident of rocky alpine slopes, subalpine meadow, and scree above the treeline, at 2,500–4,000 m.
Diet & Feeding
Grazes on alpine herbs, seeds, and grass shoots; also eats berries and invertebrates in Caucasus highlands.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28 days.
Clutch Size
5-8
Sound
Song
Melodious, slightly liquid whistling 'wheee-oo-wheee' from Caucasus alpine rocky terrain; ringing and far-carrying. Flocks coordinate calls across slopes. Alarm is a rapid staccato barking 'kak-kak'.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Tetraogallus |
| Species | Tetraogallus caucasicus |
Distribution
Caucasian Snowcock has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Caucasian Snowcock eat?
Where does the Caucasian Snowcock live?
Is the Caucasian Snowcock endangered?
How does the Caucasian Snowcock nest?
What does the Caucasian Snowcock sound like?
How big is the Caucasian Snowcock?
What order and family does the Caucasian Snowcock belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family