Altai Snowcock vs Temminck's Tragopan
Tetraogallus altaicus compared with Tragopan temminckii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Altai Snowcock | Temminck's Tragopan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tetraogallus altaicus | Tragopan temminckii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 56.9 cm (22.4 in) | 47.4 cm (18.7 in) |
| Weight | 2770.0 g (97.71 oz) | 1146.75 g (40.45 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … | Eats berries, seeds, leaves, shoots, and invertebrates in Chinese and Himalayan montane forests. Forages on … |
| Clutch Size | 4-15 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Temminck's Tragopan
Loud 'aa-aa-WAAk' call; goose-like and slightly nasal. Male calls energetically from forest understory at breeding season. Alarm is rapid barking; contact notes are soft, clucking 'bok' sounds.
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Temminck's Tragopan
Resident in the mountains of central and southwestern China and adjacent Myanmar at 2,000-4,000 m. Found in deciduous and coniferous montane forest.
Conservation Status
Altai Snowcock
Temminck's Tragopan
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Temminck's Tragopan
Male is deep crimson-orange with small round white spots; bare blue facial skin and blue inflatable bib with red and white markings during display. Female is brown with intricate buff-white …
About These Birds
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.
Temminck's Tragopan
A large pheasant (~1.1 kg) of family Phasianidae, males with brilliant crimson plumage and white-spotted grey upperparts, sporting a sky-blue lappet in display. Inhabits temperate and subalpine forests from northeastern India through southern China at 1,800–3,500 m. Feeds on berries, seeds, and invertebrates. Least Concern; the most widespread tragopan in China with stable forest populations.