Caspian snowcock

Caspian snowcock
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	Tetraogallus
Species:	T. caspius
Binomial name
Tetraogallus caspius (Gmelin, SG, 1784)

The Caspian snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius) is a snowcock in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Dari partridge or valley partridge [2] (scientific name: Tetraogallus caspius) is the name of a species of the subfamily of partridges and pheasant family. Its origin is the north of Afghanistan, areas of the Hindu Kush mountains and a large area of Takhars slopes

Dari partridge or valley partridge [2] (scientific name: Tetraogallus caspius) is the name of a species of the subfamily of partridges and the pheasant family. Its origin is the north of Afghanistan, areas of the Hindu Kush mountains and a large area of the slopes of Takharistan. This bird has a large size and is pea-grey in color. Its flight feathers are white and it often lives in very high mountain areas whose height is around 1800 to 3000 meters. The body size of the male bird is 58 cm and the female bird is 55 cm. The color of the belly is dark and pale red at the end. On the sides, there are long, wide stripes in cinnamon color, which are gray next to them. Two-thirds of the length of the primary and secondary feathers of the wing from the base side are white, which can be seen as a wide and distinct strip under the wing when flying. The special design of his face, which includes white eye band and throat, dark gray, and a rich gray line on the side of the neck, can be recognized from a close distance. The difference between the female bird and the male bird is that in the female bird, the contrast of the face pattern is less, in addition, the female bird is smaller, pale, and the crown and throat are smaller. The male bird has spikes on its feet. The type that can be seen in the southwest of Iran is light gray or pea in color. This bird is very shy and cautious and very difficult to approach. He runs away from the audience and flies quickly over the mountain with a sense of danger. It is not as social as other birds, and is usually seen in pairs. There are two types of doorknob, Takhari and Hindukshi. This bird lives in steep cliffs, rocky mountains and high peaks with little and scattered plants and builds nests among rocks and often on the edge of high cliffs. It is native and relatively abundant in Iran. In recent years, its population has decreased drastically and its hunting is prohibited.

It has the origin from the north of Afghanistan. It is also known as (kabké Dari) in Dari language spoken in Afghanistan.

This snowcock ranges from 56 to 63 cm (22 to 25 in) in length, 95 to 105 cm (37 to 41 in) in wingspan and 1.8 to 2.9 kg (4.0 to 6.4 lb) in weight.^[3] Its plumage is patterned with grey, brown, white and black, but this snowcock looks pale gray from any distance. The breast is pale gray, the throat and a white patch on the side of the neck are white, and the nape is dark gray.

In flight, this wary bird shows white flight feathers and undertail. Male and female plumages are similar, but juveniles are slightly smaller and duller in appearance. There are three races differing in plumage saturation, becoming paler from west to east.

The Caspian snowcock has a desolate whistling song, vaguely like a Eurasian curlew, sooo-looo-leeee. It differs from Caucasian snowcock in that it does not have the drop in pitch at the end of the song shown by that species. The calls include loud cackles and bubbled buck-buck-buck-buck-burrrrrr.

• Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse by Madge and McGowan, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0

Media related to Tetraogallus caspius at Wikimedia Commons

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