Tibetan Snowcock

Overview

The Tibetan snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) is a bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae, belonging to the order Galliformes. It is a high-altitude species found in the Western Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, where its range partially overlaps with the larger Himalayan snowcock.

Identification

• Grey head and neck with a white crescent patch behind the eye.
• White underparts with two grey bands on the breast and black streaks on the flanks and belly.
• Wings feature grey coverts with white trim, and secondaries show a broad white trailing edge.
• Rufous brown tail with black undertail coverts; legs and beaks are reddish.

Habitat

This species inhabits alpine pastures and stony ridges above the tree line across the Pamirs of Tajikistan, the Himalayas, Tibet, Pakistan, and China. It descends to lower altitudes during winter or periods of heavy snowfall, preferring grass-covered plateaus and barren stony plains with minimal vegetation.

Did you know?

When at rest during the middle of the day, adult birds mount high boulders to act as sentinels, warning the flock of approaching danger with loud, prolonged whistles. They also perform distraction displays when their young are threatened, while the chicks crouch or hide between stones.