Common Pheasant vs Altai Snowcock
Phasianus colchicus compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Pheasant | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phasianus colchicus | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 47.5 cm (18.7 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 1463.25 g (51.61 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Highly omnivorous; eats seeds, grain, berries, roots, invertebrates, and small vertebrates; scratches and digs in … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 2-23 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Pheasant
Loud, explosive 'kork-KOK' crowing by males; followed by rapid wing-beating. Far-carrying across farmland. Alarm is a cackling rattle; females give soft 'ti-ti' contact notes.
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
Common Pheasant
Native from the Caucasus east through central Asia to China and Korea; introduced and widespread across Europe, North America, and Australasia.
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
Common Pheasant
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Pheasant
Male rich chestnut and golden-buff with dark scale-like markings; iridescent bottle-green head with red facial wattle; often white neck-ring; long barred tail. Female cryptically mottled pale brown and buff.
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
Common Pheasant
The most widespread Phasianidae gamebird (~1.46 kg), native to Asia but introduced globally for hunting. Males are iridescent bronze with red facial wattles and a long barred tail. Inhabits farmland, woodland edges, and scrub. Omnivorous; takes seeds, grain, 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.