Himalayan Snowcock
Himalayan Snowcock
Tetraogallus himalayensis
At a Glance
Native to the Himalayan region of southern Asia, this huge grouse was introduced as a game bird in the Ruby Mountains of northern Nevada beginning in 1963. There it lives on steep and barren slopes above treeline, in remote areas that birders may visit only with a major effort. Small Himalayan Snowcock flocks move uphill during the day, feeding as they go on roots, tubers, and seeds, and then glide down the slopes again in the evening.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Phasianidae, Pheasants and Grouse, Upland Ground Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
High Mountains, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Region
Southwest
Behavior
Flushes, Rapid Wingbeats, Running
Range & Identification
Description
Sexes similar; male slightly larger — Length: 2 ft 1 in-2 ft 5 in (64-74 cm); wingspan: 3 ft 9 in-4 ft 3 in (1.1-1.3 m); weight: 4 lb 7 oz-7 lb 11 oz (2-3.5 kg). The Himalayan Snowcock is distinct in its limited U.S. range: it is very large, with chestnut stripes around pale face and throat.
Size
About the size of a Heron, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Gray, Reddish Brown, White, Red
Wing Shape
Fingered, Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Displaying male gives loud, fluting whistle; also various chuckling clucks.
Call Pattern
Rising
Call Type
Chatter, Chirp/Chip, Warble
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Himalayan Snowcock
Behavior
Eggs
A Himalayan Snowcock usually lays 4-6 eggs. The eggs are buffy to grayish, spotted with reddish brown. Incubation is by the female, about four weeks.
Young
Young leave the nest shortly after they hatch; they are tended by both parents, but find all their own food.
Diet
The Himalayan Snowcock feeds on roots, tubers, and seeds.
Nesting
The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, often sheltered from wind by nearby rocks or grass clumps.
