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Difference between revisions of "Himalayan Snowcock" - BirdForum Opus

(Attempt to disguise copied text. Imp sizes. Some extra info. Basic tidy-up/ References updated)
 
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[[Image:Himalayan_Snowcock.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult male, subspecies ''himalayensis''<br/>Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}} <br />near Chang La Pass, Ladakh, [[India]]. ]]
 
;[[:Category:Tetraogallus|Tetraogallus]] himalayensis
 
;[[:Category:Tetraogallus|Tetraogallus]] himalayensis
[[Image:Himalayan_Snowcock.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Rajiv Lather <br/>Adult male of the nominate race ''himalayensis''. <br> Location: near Chang La Pass (ca. 5000 masl), Ladakh, [[India]]. ]]
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
54-72 cm long bird. Grey, brown, white and black, the breast is pale with horizontal blackish streaking. This bird has a thin brown collar at the base of its white throat.
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54–72 cm (21¼-28½ in)
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*Grey, brown, white and black general plumage
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*Pale has horizontal blackish streaking
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*White throat
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*Thin brown collar (unique to the genus)
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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====Subspecies====
 
Five subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
 
Five subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
* ''T. h. sewerzowi'' - Tien Shan mtn range to nw China
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* ''T. h. sewerzowi'' - Tien Shan mountain range to north-western [[China]]
* ''T. h. incognitus'' - S. Tajikistan and n Afghanistan
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* ''T. h. incognitus'' - South Tajikistan and northern [[Afghanistan]]
* ''T. h. himalayensis'' - E. Afgahnistan to nw India and Nepal
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* ''T. h. himalayensis'' - East Afgahnistan to north-western [[India]] and [[Nepal]]
* ''T. h. grombezewskii'' - Kunlun mtn. range in W China to n Tibet and s Xinjiang
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* ''T. h. grombezewskii'' - Kunlun mountain range in West China to northern Tibet and southern Xinjiang
* ''T. h. koslowi'' - W China in the Nam Shan and Ching Hai Ku mtn ranges.
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* ''T. h. koslowi'' - West China in the Nam Shan and Ching Hai Ku mountain ranges
  
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The subspecies ''T. h. koslowi'' is relatively distinct and has in the past been viewed as a full species.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
In the Himalaya, it breeds at altitudes from 3600-5100 m on bare stony slopes of mountains.
 
In the Himalaya, it breeds at altitudes from 3600-5100 m on bare stony slopes of mountains.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Small flocks fly downslope in the morning, to forage systematically uphill as the day progresses. Diet includes seeds and vegetable matter. It nests in a bare ground scrape and lays typically 5-10 eggs, which are incubated only by the female. Both parents raise the young.  
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====Diet====
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Small flocks fly downhill in the morning, foraging systematically uphill as the day progresses. Diet bulbous roots, tubers, berries and grass.
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====Breeding====
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They are [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monogamous]] and territorial. They nests in a depression amongst grass tufts.
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Their clutch typically contains 5-10 eggs, which are incubated only by the female. Both parents raise the young.  
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
# Clements, James F. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World''. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2019)
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# [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2314528 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of Himalayan Snowcock
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Tetraogallus+himalayensis}}
 
{{GSearch|Tetraogallus+himalayensis}}
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Tetraogallus]][[category:incomplete]]
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tetraogallus]]

Latest revision as of 23:35, 28 May 2019

Adult male, subspecies himalayensis
Photo by Rajiv Lather
near Chang La Pass, Ladakh, India.
Tetraogallus himalayensis

Identification

54–72 cm (21¼-28½ in)

  • Grey, brown, white and black general plumage
  • Pale has horizontal blackish streaking
  • White throat
  • Thin brown collar (unique to the genus)

Distribution

Native to the Himalayas. A small (several hundred) population was introduced into the Ruby Mountains of ne Nevada, USA, and is apparently thriving.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized:[1]

  • T. h. sewerzowi - Tien Shan mountain range to north-western China
  • T. h. incognitus - South Tajikistan and northern Afghanistan
  • T. h. himalayensis - East Afgahnistan to north-western India and Nepal
  • T. h. grombezewskii - Kunlun mountain range in West China to northern Tibet and southern Xinjiang
  • T. h. koslowi - West China in the Nam Shan and Ching Hai Ku mountain ranges

The subspecies T. h. koslowi is relatively distinct and has in the past been viewed as a full species.

Habitat

In the Himalaya, it breeds at altitudes from 3600-5100 m on bare stony slopes of mountains.

Behaviour

Diet

Small flocks fly downhill in the morning, foraging systematically uphill as the day progresses. Diet bulbous roots, tubers, berries and grass.

Breeding

They are monogamous and territorial. They nests in a depression amongst grass tufts. Their clutch typically contains 5-10 eggs, which are incubated only by the female. Both parents raise the young.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2019)
  3. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Himalayan Snowcock

External Links

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