Crested Partridge vs Himalayan Snowcock
Rollulus rouloul compared with Tetraogallus himalayensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Himalayan Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Tetraogallus himalayensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 2471.5 g (87.18 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Forages on seeds, alpine grasses, shoots, berries, and invertebrates; digs for roots in Himalayan snowfields. |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 5-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Crested Partridge
High-pitched, thin whistled 'seee' repeated persistently; metallic and insect-like. Males call from forest floor, rarely seen. Alarm is an explosive low grunt followed by rapid wing beats.
Himalayan Snowcock
Loud 'whi-WHEEEOO' whistles carrying across Himalayan valleys from high-altitude scree slopes. Far-carrying, slightly mournful quality. Alarm is rapid barking 'kak'; flocks noisy when disturbed.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Himalayan Snowcock
Resident of rocky alpine slopes from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan east through the Karakoram and Himalayas to western China, at 3,000–5,500 m.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Himalayan Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Partridge
Male is dark glossy green-black with vivid red-crimson erectile crest; red orbital skin; chestnut wings. Female is entirely bright emerald green with brown wings, red legs, and grey head; among …
Himalayan Snowcock
Grey-brown upperparts with pale buff streaks; white underparts boldly marked with chestnut lateral neck stripes; dark grey breast-band; white outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight; orange-red bill.
About These Birds
Crested Partridge
A small partridge (~250 g) of family Phasianidae, males with vivid crimson crest and iridescent green plumage. Found in lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Forages on the forest floor for fallen seeds, fruits, and invertebrates. Vulnerable; dependent on primary lowland forest, heavily impacted by deforestation and palm oil expansion.
Himalayan Snowcock
A large Phasianidae snowcock (~2.47 kg) of rocky subalpine and alpine zones across the Himalayas and Central Asian ranges at 3,000–5,500 m. White-and-grey plumage with chestnut neck stripes. Gregarious in winter flocks; feeds on alpine plants, roots, and invertebrates. Introduced to Nevada; Least Concern.