Grey Junglefowl vs Altai Snowcock
Gallus sonneratii compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Junglefowl | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallus sonneratii | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 43.6 cm (17.2 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 855.25 g (30.17 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; forages for seeds, invertebrates, berries, and small animals by scratching in Indian dry forest. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 2-10 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Grey Junglefowl
Distinctive crow 'kyuk-KYUK-kyuk-kuKUK'; lower and slower than Red Junglefowl. Indian species calling from jungle edge at dawn. Alarm is a cackling rattle; females give soft contact clucks to chicks.
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
Grey Junglefowl
Endemic to peninsular India; resident of dry deciduous forest, scrub, and thorn jungle, mainly in southern and western 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
Grey Junglefowl
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey Junglefowl
Male dark grey with white shaft streaks and yellow waxy spots on hackles; black breast; red serrated comb. Female grey-brown with white shaft streaks on breast; both sexes with distinctively …
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
Grey Junglefowl
A medium-sized Phasianidae junglefowl (~855 g) endemic to peninsular India. Males have grey-spotted hackles with waxy yellow shaft-streaks and a prominent red comb. Inhabits scrub and open deciduous forest. Diet includes seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Contributed to the domestic chicken gene pool; 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.