Black Francolin vs Altai Snowcock
Francolinus francolinus compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Francolin | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Francolinus francolinus | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 389.5 g (13.74 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, grain, green shoots, invertebrates, and berries in farmland and scrubby habitats. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 5-18 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black Francolin
Loud, grating 'chee-keek-kee-keek' calls; Middle Eastern and South Asian species. Slightly musical with emphatic quality. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling. Males call from elevated perch at dawn.
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
Black Francolin
Resident of farmland, scrub, and grassland from Cyprus and Turkey through the Middle East and South Asia to Myanmar and India.
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
Black Francolin
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Black Francolin
Male predominantly black with white cheek patch; chestnut collar; white-spotted flanks; rufous nape; red legs. Female dark brown with pale scaling; chestnut nape and crown; male pattern replaced by cryptic …
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
Black Francolin
A medium-sized Phasianidae francolin (~390 g) of tall grass, cultivated fields, and scrub from the Mediterranean to South Asia. Males are striking: black body with white cheek patches and chestnut neck. Territorial males call persistently at dawn. Diet includes seeds, grass shoots, and invertebrates. 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.