Malay Partridge vs Altai Snowcock

Arborophila campbelli compared with Tetraogallus altaicus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Malay Partridge Altai Snowcock
Scientific Name Arborophila campbelli Tetraogallus altaicus
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 25.9 cm (10.2 in) 56.9 cm (22.4 in)
Weight 312.0 g (11.01 oz) 2770.0 g (97.71 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Peninsular Malaysian hill forests. Scratches leaf … Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai …
Clutch Size 4 4-15
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Malay Partridge only

Altai Snowcock only

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Song & Call Comparison

Malay Partridge

Song

Loud, slightly hollow 'hoo-WEE-hoo' call repeated steadily; pure whistled quality from Peninsular Malaysia understorey. Alarm is an abrupt clucking burst; contact notes are soft and low.

Altai Snowcock

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Malay Partridge

Endemic to the Thai-Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand and Malaysia. Found in lowland and foothill forest below 900 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.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Malay Partridge

Least Concern

Altai Snowcock

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How to Tell Them Apart

Malay Partridge

Plumage

Brown above with dark streaking; throat and face pale buff with dark-scaled feathers; breast grey; flanks grey with white streaks; bare reddish eye-ring; generally paler faced than many congeners.

Altai Snowcock

Plumage

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 …

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About These Birds

Malay Partridge

A medium-sized partridge (~310 g) of family Phasianidae, with brownish plumage and white-streaked flanks. Endemic to the mountains of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Inhabits montane forests above 600 m elevation. Forages on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern; restricted highland species but not threatened in its remaining montane habitat.

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.

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