The snowcocks or snowfowl are a group of birdspecies in the genusTetraogallus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds that breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China. Some of the species have been introduced into the United States. Snowcocks feed mainly on plant material.
Snowcocks are bulky, long-necked, long-bodied partridge-like birds. Males and females are generally similar in appearance but females tend to be slightly smaller and rather duller in colouration than males. They are generally grey with varying amounts of white, black and brown according to species and with distinctive white under tail-coverts. Their plumage is thick with a downy base to the feathers which helps them to withstand severe winter temperatures that may fall to −40 °C (−40 °F). The colour of juvenile snowcocks is similar to the colour of the females and the young are not fully grown until their second year of life.[2]
Snowcocks are heavy birds and are unable to fly far with flapping flight. Instead they run to a high point, launch themselves into the air and glide, gradually losing altitude. They are to be found on open slopes above the tree line where they feed on leaves, shoots, roots, fruits, berries and insects.[2]
Distribution
The snowcocks are each endemic to different mountain ranges in Asia where they are normally found on open slopes above the tree line.[2] Only in the case of the Himalayan snowcock and the Tibetan snowcock do their ranges overlap.[2]
Central and South Asia above the treeline and near the snowline. In the Himalayas
References
^ abPeters, JL (1934). Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. pp. 60–63.
^ abcdMadge, Steve; McGowan, J. K.; Kirwan, Guy M. (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World. A. C. Black. pp. 174–180. ISBN9780713639667.
^BirdLife International (2017). "Tetraogallus caucasicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22678661A111767442. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22678661A111767442.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Tetraogallus caspius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678664A85854649. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678664A85854649.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Tetraogallus tibetanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678667A92783560. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678667A92783560.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2018). "Tetraogallus himalayensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22678673A132049858. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22678673A132049858.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Tetraogallus altaicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678670A92783743. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678670A92783743.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
January 30, 2023
snowcock, snowcocks, snowfowl, group, bird, species, genus, tetraogallus, pheasant, family, phasianidae, they, ground, nesting, birds, that, breed, mountain, ranges, southern, eurasia, from, caucasus, himalayas, western, china, some, species, have, been, intro. The snowcocks or snowfowl are a group of bird species in the genus Tetraogallus of the pheasant family Phasianidae They are ground nesting birds that breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China Some of the species have been introduced into the United States Snowcocks feed mainly on plant material SnowcocksTibetan snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder GalliformesFamily PhasianidaeTribe CoturniciniGenus TetraogallusJ E Gray 1832Type speciesTetraogallus nigelli 1 J E Gray Tetraogallus himalayensis G R GraySpeciesSee text Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Distribution 3 Species 4 ReferencesCharacteristics EditSnowcocks are bulky long necked long bodied partridge like birds Males and females are generally similar in appearance but females tend to be slightly smaller and rather duller in colouration than males They are generally grey with varying amounts of white black and brown according to species and with distinctive white under tail coverts Their plumage is thick with a downy base to the feathers which helps them to withstand severe winter temperatures that may fall to 40 C 40 F The colour of juvenile snowcocks is similar to the colour of the females and the young are not fully grown until their second year of life 2 Snowcocks are heavy birds and are unable to fly far with flapping flight Instead they run to a high point launch themselves into the air and glide gradually losing altitude They are to be found on open slopes above the tree line where they feed on leaves shoots roots fruits berries and insects 2 Distribution EditThe snowcocks are each endemic to different mountain ranges in Asia where they are normally found on open slopes above the tree line 2 Only in the case of the Himalayan snowcock and the Tibetan snowcock do their ranges overlap 2 The Caucasian snowcock occurs in the Caucasus Mountains in Azerbaijan Georgia and the Russian Federation It has been introduced into the United States 3 The Caspian snowcock is native to eastern Turkey Armenia Azerbaijan Iran Iraq and Georgia and has been introduced into the United States 4 The Tibetan snowcock is native to mountain ranges in India Nepal Bhutan Tajikistan and China 5 The Himalayan snowcock occurs in mountainous areas of Afghanistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Nepal India and China and has been introduced into the United States 6 The Altai snowcock is endemic to high altitudes in Kazakhstan Mongolia China and the Russian Federation 7 Species EditThe five species within the genus along with subspecies are 1 Image Name Common name Sub species Distribution Tetraogallus tibetanus Gould 1854 Tibetan snowcock T t tibetanus Gould 1854 T t tschimenensis Sushkin 1926 T t centralis Sushkin 1926 T t przewalskii Bianchi 1907 T t henrici Oustalet 1891 T t aquilonifer R amp A Meinertzhagen 1926 the Western Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau Tetraogallus altaicus Gebler 1836 Altai snowcock T a altaicus Gebler 1836 T a orientalis Sushkin 1926 China Kazakhstan and Russia Tetraogallus caucasicus Pallas 1811 Caucasian snowcock Caucasus Mountains Tetraogallus caspius Gmelin 1784 Caspian snowcock T c caspius Gmelin 1784 T c semenowtianschanskii Zarudny 1908 eastern Turkey Armenia Azerbaijan and throughout the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran Tetraogallus himalayensis Gray 1843 Himalayan snowcock T h himalayensis Gray 1843 T h grombczewskii Bianchi 1898 T h koslowi Bianchi 1898 Central and South Asia above the treeline and near the snowline In the HimalayasReferences Edit a b Peters JL 1934 Check list of birds of the world Vol 2 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press pp 60 63 a b c d Madge Steve McGowan J K Kirwan Guy M 2002 Pheasants Partridges and Grouse A Guide to the Pheasants Partridges Quails Grouse Guineafowl Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World A C Black pp 174 180 ISBN 9780713639667 BirdLife International 2017 Tetraogallus caucasicus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22678661A111767442 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 1 RLTS T22678661A111767442 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 BirdLife International 2016 Tetraogallus caspius IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22678664A85854649 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22678664A85854649 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 BirdLife International 2016 Tetraogallus tibetanus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22678667A92783560 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22678667A92783560 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 BirdLife International 2018 Tetraogallus himalayensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22678673A132049858 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22678673A132049858 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 BirdLife International 2016 Tetraogallus altaicus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22678670A92783743 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22678670A92783743 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Snowcock amp oldid 1106599945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
