Orange River Francolin vs Altai Snowcock
Scleroptila gutturalis compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Orange River Francolin | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scleroptila gutturalis | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 407.3333333333333 g (14.37 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in semi-arid karoo and open scrub of southern … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Orange River Francolin
Repetitive 'kree-kree-krak' calls from Karoo scrubland; slightly thinner than Grey-winged Francolin. Alarm explosive cackling. S African arid species calling at dawn. Contact 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
Orange River Francolin
Resident of dry karoo scrub, grassy hillsides, and stony plains in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.
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
Orange River Francolin
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Orange River Francolin
Pale sandy-brown above with buff streaks; white underparts boldly streaked dark brown; white throat; rufous primary patch in flight; yellow-orange bill; red legs. Very similar to Red-winged Francolin but paler.
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
Orange River Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~407 g) of dry thornveld and sparse scrub along the Orange River basin and Karoo of South Africa and Namibia. Pale rufous-streaked plumage blends with arid surroundings. Feeds on seeds, grass, and invertebrates; forages in pairs or small groups. Least Concern in arid range.
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.