Western Capercaillie vs Altai Snowcock
Tetrao urogallus comparé à Tetraogallus altaicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Western Capercaillie | Altai Snowcock |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tetrao urogallus | Tetraogallus altaicus |
| Ordre | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Famille | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 69,5 cm (27.4 in) | 56,9 cm (22.4 in) |
| Poids | 3072,5 g (108.38 oz) | 2770,0 g (97.71 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Relies on pine and other conifer needles in winter; forages for berries, shoots, herbs, and … | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-12 | 4-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Western Capercaillie
Extraordinary lek song: four phases — ticking, popping, cork-pulling, then grinding 'shhhhh'; lasts 6–8 seconds. Largest grouse song; audible 500+ m in European forest. Alarm is a loud bark.
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
Western Capercaillie
Resident of mature coniferous and mixed forests from Scotland and Scandinavia east through Russia to Siberia; relict populations in central Europe.
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
Western Capercaillie
Altai Snowcock
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Capercaillie
Strongly dimorphic. Male dark slate-blue with iridescent bottle-green gorget, brown wings, and red wattle over eye; fan-shaped tail. Female cryptically barred ochre, russet, and black with orange breast patch.
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
Western Capercaillie
Europe's largest grouse (~3 kg), family Phasianidae, inhabiting old-growth boreal and montane forests. Males produce a remarkable gurgling lek display. Diet shifts seasonally from berries and insects to pine needles. Requires undisturbed mature forest; Least Concern globally.
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.