Caucasian Snowcock
Tetraogallus caucasicus
Large and heavily-built gamebird of the Caucasus Mountains. Grayish overall, with a whitish face and throat. Also note coarse rusty-brown-and-white streaking on the back and sides. Inhabits the high rocky reaches of the mountains, from the forest’s upper limit up to the snowline; will move down the mountains in response to especially harsh winter snowstorms. Song is a loonlike, desolate, rising whistle. Gives loud “chuk” calls when alarmed.
Identification
This is a 50–60 cm (20–24 in) long bird. Its plumage is patterned with grey, brown, white and black, but this snowcock looks grey from any distance. The breast is darker and the flanks ruddier than the rest of the body. It has a white throat and a white patch on the side of the neck. The nape is rust-coloured.<p>In flight, this wary bird shows white flight feathers and undertail, and reddish sides to the tail. Male and female plumages are similar, but the juvenile is slightly smaller and duller in appearance.<p>Caucasian snowcock has a desolate whistling song, vaguely like a Eurasian curlew, sooo-looo-leeee. The calls include loud cackles and bubbled buck-buck-buck-buck-burrrrrr.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tetraogallus caucasicus
- Authority
- (Pallas, 1811)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Tetraogallus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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