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
Other Birds
Ashy Woodswallow
Artamus fuscus
A chunky, large-headed bird of open areas, usually found perched on wires or flying around in search of insects. Soft gunmetal gray with white underparts. Often found pressed together in pairs or tight groups when at rest. Sometimes flies in the same areas as swallows and swifts, but has a much thicker build, with triangular, somewhat starling-like wings. The only woodswallow throughout most of its range. Song is a somewhat myna-like series of sweet warbling and harsh chattering. Also gives nasal scolding “nyeh”, comparable to a jay or treepie.
Golden Tanager
Tangara arthus
Small tanager found in Andean foothills and subtropical zone from Venezuela to Bolivia. Mostly bright golden-yellow with isolated black ear patch, streaked back, and mostly black wings and tail. Some variation among populations, with northernmost birds showing a chestnut breast band and flanks. Sexes alike; young birds duller yellow. One of the most common tanagers in mixed flocks from around 900–2,200 m, in cloud forest, edges, and gardens.
Cream-throated White-eye
Zosterops atriceps
A tiny warbler-like songbird with a pale eye-ring. Greenish above and grayish-white below with a yellow undertail and variable amounts of black on the front of the head. Singles, pairs, or groups inhabit forest, edge, and cultivated areas in lowlands and hills. Confined to Halmahera, Obi, and Bacan. Separated from Warbling White-eye by whitish or gray underparts. Gives a high-pitched twittering song, characteristic of white-eyes.
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