Red-necked Spurfowl vs Altai Snowcock
Pternistis afer compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-necked Spurfowl | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis afer | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 574.1666666666666 g (20.25 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in African savanna and scrubby woodland. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-necked Spurfowl only
Altai Snowcock only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Red-necked Spurfowl
Loud, harsh crowing duet; raucous 'krrreek-krrreek' repeated vigorously; common call at dawn in dense bush; alarm a rapid staccato clucking
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
Red-necked Spurfowl
Resident of open woodland, forest edge, and moist savanna from Ethiopia and Somalia south through East Africa to South Africa.
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
Red-necked Spurfowl
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-necked Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; bare bright red facial skin extending prominently down neck diagnostic; red legs; dark bill. Sexes similar; …
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
Red-necked Spurfowl
A medium-large Phasianidae spurfowl (~574 g) of woodland, riverine scrub, and cultivated edges across eastern and southern Africa. Bright red bill, throat, and facial skin are unmistakable. Pairs or small groups forage on seeds, roots, and invertebrates. Calls loud and raucous at dawn; 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.