See-see Partridge vs Altai Snowcock
Ammoperdix griseogularis compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | See-see Partridge | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ammoperdix griseogularis | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.2 cm (9.9 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 203.0 g (7.16 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, plant shoots, and invertebrates in arid rocky terrain of Central Asia; relies on … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 5-16 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
See-see Partridge
Loud 'see-see-see' whistle giving rise to common name; soft, penetrating, and repeated. Middle Eastern rocky terrain species. Alarm is rapid staccato 'kek'. Contact calls between pair low clucking.
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
See-see Partridge
Resident of arid rocky hillsides and desert scrub from southeastern Iran and Afghanistan west through Pakistan to Oman and the Arabian Peninsula.
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
See-see Partridge
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
See-see Partridge
Male sandy-grey with bold black and white lateral head stripes; chestnut and white barred flanks; grey upperparts; white underparts. Female plain sandy-buff with faint barring; lacks bold head pattern of …
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
See-see Partridge
A small Phasianidae partridge (~203 g) of arid rocky desert and stony hillsides from the Sinai to Afghanistan. Males have a distinctive grey throat and orange-buff flank stripes. Named for its whistling 'see-see' call. Feeds on seeds and plant material. Highly adapted to hot, dry environments. 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.