Tibetan Snowcock
Tetraogallus tibetanus
The Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) is a rare partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 4 countries, weighing about 1.5 kg. The Tibetan snowcock is a bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
About the Tibetan Snowcock
The Tibetan snowcock is a bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. This species is found in high-altitude regions of the Western Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, where it overlaps in part with the larger Himalayan snowcock. The head is greyish and there is a white crescent patch behind the eye and underside is white with black stripes. In flight the secondaries show a broad white trailing edge.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Smaller than Himalayan snowcock, this species has a grey head and neck with a white patch behind the eye and above the dark cheek. Chin, throat and breast are white, with two grey bands on the breast. Grey wing coverts and tertials have a white trim. The secondaries have a broad white trailing edge that forms a wing band. Underparts are white with black streaks on flanks and belly. The tail is rufous brown and the undertail coverts are black. Legs and beaks are reddish.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tibetan Snowcock?
- Smaller than Himalayan snowcock, this species has a grey head and neck with a white patch behind the eye and above the dark cheek. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tibetan Snowcock?
- The Tibetan Snowcock is a large sized bird weighing about 1.5 kg.
- Where can you see a Tibetan Snowcock?
- The Tibetan Snowcock occurs in 4 countries, including China, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
- What birds look similar to a Tibetan Snowcock?
- The Tibetan Snowcock is most easily confused with the Caucasian Snowcock, the Caspian Snowcock and the Himalayan Snowcock.
- Is the Tibetan Snowcock endangered?
- The Tibetan Snowcock is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tibetan Snowcock for real
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