Crested Partridge vs Tibetan Snowcock
Rollulus rouloul compared with Tetraogallus tibetanus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Partridge | Tibetan Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rollulus rouloul | Tetraogallus tibetanus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 52.6 cm (20.7 in) |
| Weight | 250.5 g (8.84 oz) | 1505.0 g (53.09 oz) |
| Diet | Forages on floor of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests for seeds, fallen fruits, and invertebrates. Scratches … | Grazes on alpine grasses, sedges, seeds, and shoots; supplements with bulbs, roots, and invertebrates on … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 4-5 |
| 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.
Tibetan Snowcock
Loud, melodious whistling 'wheee-whoo-whee' ringing across Tibetan plateau; similar to ptarmigan but richer and more varied. Flocks call together in chorus. Alarm is rapid barking 'kak-kak-kak'.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Partridge
Resident in lowland and foothill rainforest of Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found below 1,500 m.
Tibetan Snowcock
Resident of high-altitude rocky slopes, alpine meadow, and scree on the Tibetan Plateau from Ladakh to western China, at 3,000–5,600 m.
Conservation Status
Crested Partridge
Tibetan 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 …
Tibetan Snowcock
Grey-brown upperparts with pale buff streaking; white underparts with grey breast-band and rufous lateral breast streaks; white face with dark ear patch; white outer tail feathers visible in flight. Sexes …
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.
Tibetan Snowcock
A large Phasianidae snowcock (~1.51 kg) of high Tibetan Plateau and adjacent ranges from Afghanistan to western China, typically at 4,000–6,000 m. White underparts with grey streaks; runs fast on rocky terrain. Feeds on grass roots, leaves, and invertebrates. Least Concern; adapted to extreme altitude.