Philby's Partridge vs Altai Snowcock
Alectoris philbyi compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philby's Partridge | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alectoris philbyi | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 441.0 g (15.56 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, shoots, berries, and invertebrates in rocky terrain of the Arabian Peninsula. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Philby's Partridge
Loud 'chuck-chukAR' calls from SW Arabian Peninsula lava fields; similar to Chukar but slightly lower. Alarm is rapid cackling rattle. Calls from rocky lava terrain at dawn. Pairs often call …
Altai Snowcock
Loud, ringing whistled 'whi-WHEEE' echoing across Altai alpine slopes; deeper than Tibetan Snowcock due to larger size. Alarm is rapid barking. Calls at dawn from rocky ridgelines.
Geographic Range & Migration
Philby's Partridge
Endemic to the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia and northwestern Yemen (Asir and Hijaz escarpments), at 1,500–3,000 m.
Altai Snowcock
Resident of alpine rocky slopes and grassy hillsides in the Altai and Sayan mountains of Russia, Kazakhstan, and western Mongolia, at 2,000–4,000 m.
Conservation Status
Philby's Partridge
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Philby's Partridge
Differs from other Alectoris: black face and throat contrasting with white supercilium; grey-brown upperparts; bold chestnut and white barred flanks; red bill and legs; grey breast. Endemic to SW Arabian …
Altai Snowcock
Largest snowcock; grey-brown upperparts with buff streaks; white underparts with grey breast; rufous necklace streaks on lower neck; white outer tail in flight; whitish face with dark ear patch. Sexes …
About These Birds
Philby's Partridge
A medium Phasianidae partridge (~441 g) of barren lava plateaux and rocky escarpments in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Grey-brown with a distinctive black forehead stripe and white-spotted flanks. Adapted to extreme aridity. Feeds on dry seeds and invertebrates. Rarely studied; Least Concern.
Altai Snowcock
The largest snowcock (~2.77 kg), family Phasianidae, of alpine scree and subalpine meadows in the Altai and Tian Shan ranges of Central Asia. Heavily built, grey and white with rusty-brown markings. Feeds on roots, bulbs, and alpine plants. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Least Concern.