New Zealand Quail vs Altai Snowcock
Coturnix novaezelandiae compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Quail | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coturnix novaezelandiae | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 174.66666666666666 g (6.16 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Fed on seeds and invertebrates in New Zealand grassland; extinct since late 19th century. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
New Zealand Quail
Extinct since 1875; historical accounts describe a 'quail-like' whistled call from grassland. Likely similar to Common Quail 'wet-my-lips' but undocumented in detail. No recordings exist.
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
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; formerly endemic to New Zealand (North and South Islands); last confirmed record 1875; habitat loss drove extinction.
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
New Zealand Quail
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; male with rufous-buff underparts and dark brown streaking; white supercilium; darker crown. Female paler. Last recorded 1875; similar to Brown Quail.
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
New Zealand Quail
An extinct Phasianidae quail (~175 g) formerly endemic to open grasslands of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Last confirmed records date to 1875. Brown-streaked with rufous face markings. Extirpated by introduced predators, hunting, and habitat modification following European settlement. Now Extinct.
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.