Brown Eared-pheasant vs Altai Snowcock
Crossoptilon mantchuricum compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Eared-pheasant | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crossoptilon mantchuricum | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 58.2 cm (22.9 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 1900.0 g (67.02 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Digs in soil for bulbs, tubers, and invertebrates; also takes seeds, berries, and green vegetation. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 4-14 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Brown Eared-pheasant
Raucous 'kak-kak-KAAK' calls; similar to White Eared-pheasant but slightly lower; endemic to NE China. Flock communication is loud and sustained. Alarm a series of sharp barks; wing beats very loud.
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
Brown Eared-pheasant
Endemic to coniferous and mixed forest on mountains in Hebei and Shanxi provinces of northern China, at 1,400–2,900 m; critically restricted range.
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
Brown Eared-pheasant
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Eared-pheasant
Warm chocolate-brown body with paler buff-white tail graduating to dark brown tips; black crown; white ear tufts; brownish flight feathers; scarlet facial skin; whitish lower rump contrasts with brown back.
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
Brown Eared-pheasant
A robust Phasianidae pheasant (~1.9 kg) endemic to montane broadleaf and mixed forests of northeastern China. Chocolate-brown with white ear tufts and a white rump. Forms flocks that forage on roots, seeds, and invertebrates. Historically reduced by hunting; conservation efforts have stabilised populations. 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.