Altai Snowcock vs Buff-throated Partridge
Tetraogallus altaicus comparé à Tetraophasis szechenyii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Altai Snowcock | Buff-throated Partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tetraogallus altaicus | Tetraophasis szechenyii |
| Ordre | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Famille | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 56,9 cm (22.4 in) | 44,1 cm (17.4 in) |
| Poids | 2770,0 g (97.71 oz) | 1170,0 g (41.27 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Feeds on alpine grasses, seeds, berries, and shoots; digs for roots and bulbs in Altai … | Forages on Tibetan and Sichuan alpine meadows for berries, seeds, moss, leaves, and invertebrates. Digs … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-15 | 2-5 |
| 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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Repeated harsh, guttural 'churk-churk-CHURK' calls; slightly pheasant-like with raspy quality. Alpine Tibetan species; alarm is a loud single bark. Flock contact calls are low, rolling clucks.
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.
Buff-throated Partridge
Endemic to mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan, China at 3,000-4,500 m. Found in subalpine conifer forest and rhododendron scrub.
Statut de conservation
Altai Snowcock
Buff-throated Partridge
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 …
Buff-throated Partridge
Grey-brown above vermiculated; throat and breast buff-white; flanks grey with white streaking; bare red facial skin; tail chestnut; larger than Chestnut-throated and with buff rather than chestnut throat.
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.
Buff-throated Partridge
A large pheasant-partridge (~1.2 kg) of family Phasianidae, with buff-colored throat and grey-brown barred upperparts. Inhabits alpine and subalpine scrub, coniferous forest, and rocky slopes in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet, China at 3,200–4,500 m. Feeds on seeds, berries, leaves, and invertebrates. Least Concern; a high-altitude specialist of western China with stable remote populations.