Caspian snowcock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caspian snowcock |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tetraogallus
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| Species: |
caspius
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The Caspian snowcock (scientific name: Tetraogallus caspius) is a cool bird that lives in the mountains. It's part of the snowcock group, which belongs to the pheasant family. These birds are known as 'gallinaceous birds,' like chickens and turkeys.
You can find these snowcocks in the mountains of eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and across the Alborz Mountains in Northern Iran. They like to live high up, usually between 1,800 and 3,000 meters (about 5,900 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. They prefer rocky areas with some small mountain plants.
When it's time to have babies, the female snowcock makes a simple nest on the ground. She lays about 6 to 9 greenish eggs and takes care of them all by herself. These birds mostly eat seeds and other plant parts. When they are not busy raising chicks, they often gather in small groups.
What Does a Caspian Snowcock Look Like?
The Caspian snowcock is a fairly large bird. It can be about 56 to 63 centimeters (22 to 25 inches) long. Its wings can spread out from 95 to 105 centimeters (37 to 41 inches) wide. These birds usually weigh between 1.8 and 2.9 kilograms (4 to 6.4 pounds).
Its feathers have a mix of gray, brown, white, and black patterns. But from a distance, the bird looks mostly light gray. Its chest is pale gray, and it has a white throat. There's also a white patch on the side of its neck, and the back of its neck is dark gray.
How to Spot Them in Flight
When a Caspian snowcock flies, you can see its white flight feathers and the white feathers under its tail. These birds are quite shy and careful. Both male and female snowcocks look very similar. Young snowcocks are a bit smaller and their colors are not as bright.
There are three slightly different types of Caspian snowcocks. They vary a little in how bright their colors are. The ones in the west tend to be darker, and they get paler as you go east.
What Do They Sound Like?
The Caspian snowcock has a lonely-sounding whistling song. It can sound a bit like a Eurasian curlew. Their song is often described as sooo-looo-leeee. It's different from the song of the Caucasian snowcock because it doesn't drop in pitch at the end. They also make loud cackling sounds and bubbly calls like buck-buck-buck-buck-burrrrrr.
