Grey Francolin vs Altai Snowcock
Ortygornis pondicerianus compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Francolin | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ortygornis pondicerianus | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 337.5 g (11.90 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, grain, invertebrates, and berries in open scrub and farmland of South Asia. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 6-10 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Grey Francolin
Loud, repetitive 'tee-tee-tee-teetar' calls; Indian scrubland species with cackling quality. Pairs call in duet. Alarm is rapid 'kek-kek-kek' cackle. Very vocal at dawn and dusk.
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 Francolin
Resident of dry grassland, scrub, and farmland across the Indian Subcontinent from Pakistan and India to Sri Lanka and Nepal.
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 Francolin
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey Francolin
Pale sandy-grey upperparts finely vermiculated buff and dark brown; buff-white underparts with dark brown streaking; orange-rufous throat with dark border; red bill base. Sexes similar; female paler throat.
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 Francolin
A common small Phasianidae francolin (~338 g) of open scrub, semi-arid grassland, and farmland from the Middle East through the Indian subcontinent. Sandy-grey with intricate barring; throat pale orange. Gregarious; utters a characteristic loud call at dawn and dusk. Omnivorous ground forager. 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.