Caspian Snowcock
The Caspian Snowcock, Tetraogallus caspius, is a snowcock in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
It is found in the mountains of eastern Turkey and Armenia, and throughout the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran. It breeds at altitudes from 1800-3000 m on bare stony ground with some alpine scrub. It nests in a bare ground scrape and lays 6-9 greenish eggs, which are incubated only by the female. Its diet consists of seeds and vegetable matter. It forms small flocks when not breeding.
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. 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.
It is found in the mountains of eastern Turkey and Armenia, and throughout the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran. It breeds at altitudes from 1800-3000 m on bare stony ground with some alpine scrub. It nests in a bare ground scrape and lays 6-9 greenish eggs, which are incubated only by the female. Its diet consists of seeds and vegetable matter. It forms small flocks when not breeding.
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. 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.
