Whyte's Francolin vs Altai Snowcock
Scleroptila whytei compared with Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whyte's Francolin | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scleroptila whytei | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.8 cm (12.9 in) | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Weight | 488.0 g (17.21 oz) | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Diet | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in miombo woodland and grassland of central Africa. | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Clutch Size | 4-6 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Whyte's Francolin
Loud 'krak-KRAK-kra' calls from C-SE African miombo woodland; sharp and penetrating. Alarm is rapid cackle. Pairs call from termite mound or rock perches at dawn. Miombo woodland specialist.
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
Whyte's Francolin
Resident of miombo woodland, scrub, and rocky hillsides in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and adjacent Tanzania and Mozambique.
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
Whyte's Francolin
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Whyte's Francolin
Brown above with buff streaking; pale buff underparts with brown lateral streaking; white throat; rufous wing panel in flight; yellow-orange bill; red legs. Closely resembles Red-winged Francolin; central African range.
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
Whyte's Francolin
A medium Phasianidae francolin (~488 g) of rocky hillsides, miombo woodland, and brachystegia scrub in Malawi, Zambia, and adjacent countries. Broadly similar to Shelley's Francolin but range largely allopatric. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates on the ground. Least Concern in its central-African highland 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.