Bornean Peacock-Pheasant vs Altai Snowcock
Polyplectron schleiermacheri compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bornean Peacock-Pheasant | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyplectron schleiermacheri | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.4 cm (14.7 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 512.0 g (18.06 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Ground forager in Bornean lowland 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 | 1 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Soft, plaintive 'kwii-kwii' whistle; rarely heard from Bornean lowland peat swamp. Poorly documented vocally. Alarm presumably a sharp 'kek'. Males produce soft calls during ocellated tail display.
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
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Endemic to Borneo; resident of lowland and hill forest in Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan; one of the rarest pheasants.
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
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Male brown with dense small iridescent blue-green ocelli across wings and tail; reddish-pink orbital skin; white speckled face. Female similar but smaller; ocelli reduced and duller; brown overall.
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
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
One of the rarest Phasianidae pheasants (~512 g), endemic to lowland primary forests of Borneo. Males have brown plumage densely patterned with iridescent blue-green ocelli. Rarely observed; forages on seeds and invertebrates. Endangered due to rapid destruction of Bornean lowland forest; few confirmed recent records.
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.