Description:

A large chunky partridge with grey head, clean white underparts with diagonal black strips. From Himalayan Snowcock by prominent white or buffish patch on ear-coverts offset against grey of head and neck, double band of grey across upper breast, white underparts with broad black flank stripes, and whitish fringes to coverts and scapulars.

Distribution:

Rare resident in the higher northern tip of Hunza district in Gilgit-Baltistan. Found in high-altitude rocky slopes and ridges and alpine meadows. Usually from 3700m up to permanent snowline around 5500m in summer.

Behavior:

Takes flight at distance, diving steeply and skillfully downhill. Moves uphill slowly during the day, foraging by raking the ground and digging with bill. Forms large flocks during non-breeding season, sometimes feeding with blue sheep. Feeds predominantly on bulbous roots and tubers, berries, grasses, sedges, shoots and leaves.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Tibetan Snowcock in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Tibetan Snowcock

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.