Long-billed Partridge vs Altai Snowcock
Rhizothera longirostris compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Long-billed Partridge | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhizothera longirostris | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.9 cm (14.5 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 748.5 g (26.40 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Forages in lowland rainforest for seeds, fallen fruit, invertebrates, and small animals; probes leaf litter … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 2-5 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Long-billed Partridge
Loud, resonant 'whurr-WHEEE' whistle from Bornean lowland forest; far-carrying and slightly mournful. Alarm is a rapid chattering cackle. Contact calls between pairs are low, guttural 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
Long-billed Partridge
Resident of lowland and hill dipterocarp forest in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo up to 900 m elevation.
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
Long-billed Partridge
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Long-billed Partridge
Rich chestnut-brown upperparts with black scalloping; pale grey face and throat; buff-white underparts with dark brown streaking on flanks; distinctive elongated pale yellow bill and red orbital skin.
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
Long-billed Partridge
A distinctive Phasianidae partridge (~749 g) of lowland and foothill rainforests in Sundaland. Named for its notably elongated bill used to probe leaf litter for invertebrates and seeds. Secretive and seldom seen; Near Threatened from deforestation across Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.
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.