Ferruginous Partridge vs Himalayan Snowcock
Caloperdix oculeus compared with Tetraogallus himalayensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Partridge | Himalayan Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caloperdix oculeus | Tetraogallus himalayensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) |
| Weight | 210.5 g (7.43 oz) | 2471.5 g (87.18 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … | Forages on seeds, alpine grasses, shoots, berries, and invertebrates; digs for roots in Himalayan snowfields. |
| Clutch Size | 8-10 | 5-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Ferruginous Partridge
Sharp, staccato 'krik-krik-krik' calls from lowland rainforest; often given in duet. Alarm is a loud, rapid chattering rattle; contact notes between pairs soft and clucking.
Himalayan Snowcock
Loud 'whi-WHEEEOO' whistles carrying across Himalayan valleys from high-altitude scree slopes. Far-carrying, slightly mournful quality. Alarm is rapid barking 'kak'; flocks noisy when disturbed.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ferruginous Partridge
Resident in lowland rainforest of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found in flat or gently sloping lowland forest.
Himalayan Snowcock
Resident of rocky alpine slopes from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan east through the Karakoram and Himalayas to western China, at 3,000–5,500 m.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Partridge
Himalayan Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Ferruginous Partridge
Rich ferruginous (deep rusty-orange) overall; upperparts black-and-rufous barred; flanks black boldly spotted white; bare red facial skin; underparts rufous-orange; one of the most vividly coloured Southeast Asian partridges.
Himalayan Snowcock
Grey-brown upperparts with pale buff streaks; white underparts boldly marked with chestnut lateral neck stripes; dark grey breast-band; white outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight; orange-red bill.
About These Birds
Ferruginous Partridge
A small partridge (~210 g) of family Phasianidae, with rich ferruginous (rust-red) plumage and spotted black-and-white markings. Inhabits lowland and foothill rainforests in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Secretive, foraging on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Near Threatened; associated with primary and tall secondary forest, declining with ongoing logging and land conversion.
Himalayan Snowcock
A large Phasianidae snowcock (~2.47 kg) of rocky subalpine and alpine zones across the Himalayas and Central Asian ranges at 3,000–5,500 m. White-and-grey plumage with chestnut neck stripes. Gregarious in winter flocks; feeds on alpine plants, roots, and invertebrates. Introduced to Nevada; Least Concern.