Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant vs Altai Snowcock
Polyplectron chalcurum compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyplectron chalcurum | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 366.75 g (12.94 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Ground forager in Sumatran montane forest; eats seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small animals. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant
High-pitched, thin 'tsii-tsii' whistle; Sumatran endemic with quiet, high voice. Alarm a sharp 'kek'. Male calls during display from dense understorey. Rarely recorded in the wild.
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
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant
Endemic to the mountains of northern and central Sumatra; resident of submontane and montane forest, 600–1,800 m.
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
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant
Brown with white shaft streaks; tail feathers with bronzy-green iridescent sheen lacking distinct round ocelli; differs from congeners in this reduced ocellation; reddish orbital skin; pale buff face scaling.
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
Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant
A small Phasianidae pheasant (~367 g) endemic to montane forests of Sumatra, typically above 1,000 m. Males are brown with sparse bronze ocelli on the tail. Distinguished from related species by the reduced and bronzy iridescence. Forages on seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern within its montane habitat.
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.