Painted Bush-quail vs Altai Snowcock
Perdicula erythrorhyncha compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Painted Bush-quail | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Perdicula erythrorhyncha | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.6 cm (6.5 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 67.5 g (2.38 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 4-10 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Painted Bush-quail
High, piping 'wee-wee-wee' call from Indian hill grassland; slightly melodic for a bush-quail. Alarm is a soft 'pip-pip'. Red bill prominent when flushed. Covey contact notes are gentle clucks.
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
Painted Bush-quail
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
Painted Bush-quail
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Painted Bush-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
Painted Bush-quail
A tiny Phasianidae quail (~68 g) of moist scrub and secondary growth along the Western Ghats and Himalayan foothills. Males have a bright red bill and richly spotted plumage. Coveys forage in dense scrub for seeds and invertebrates. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent; 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.