Blue Eared-pheasant vs Altai Snowcock
Crossoptilon auritum comparé à Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Blue Eared-pheasant | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Crossoptilon auritum | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Ordre | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Famille | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 59,1 cm (23.3 in) | 56,9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Poids | 1785,0 g (62.96 oz) | 2770,0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous; digs for tubers, roots, and invertebrates; eats seeds, berries, and shoots in montane forests … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Taille de la couvée | 6-12 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Blue Eared-pheasant
Loud, resonant 'gaa-gaa-GAAK' calls with slight bugling quality; Sichuan-Qinghai mountain species. Flock communication noisy. Alarm is loud explosive barking; white ear tufts raised during calling.
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
Blue Eared-pheasant
Resident of forest, scrub, and alpine meadow in central and eastern China (Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Shaanxi), at 2,000–4,000 m.
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.
Statut de conservation
Blue Eared-pheasant
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue Eared-pheasant
Predominantly blue-grey with darker blue primaries; black crown; long white ear tufts; graduated tail with white bases and dark-tipped glossy black outer feathers; red facial skin. Sexes alike.
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
Blue Eared-pheasant
A large Phasianidae pheasant (~1.79 kg) of high coniferous and mixed forests in central China. Slate-blue plumage contrasts with crimson legs and long, drooping white ear tufts. Gregarious; flocks excavate roots and bulbs. Adapts to high elevations up to 4,000 m in summer. Least Concern.
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.