Snow quail-Description

Description: Medium build (35cm), grey throughout, upper body, Head, neck and tail with black and white pinstripes, back and wings pale tan, white breast with characteristic broad spear-shaped chestnut stripes. The various subspecies are difficult to distinguish in the wild. For details, see: → Snowquail Encyclopedia

Iris—red brown; mouth—crimson; feet—orange red.

Snow quail-call

Call: Breeding call is like a gray partridge. The cry is low whistle when frightened, and turns sharp when in danger. Call appreciation: →Snow quail calls

Snow quail-geographical distribution

Distribution range: Himalayas, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to central China.

Distribution: Commonly found in alpine meadows and gravel areas above the treeline at an altitude of 2900 to 5000 meters. The named subspecies are distributed in southern Tibet; major in Sichuan, callipygia in southern Gansu and northern Sichuan.

Snow Quail - Habits

Habits: Often gregarious; when frightened, the wings vibrate vigorously and lift off and disperse. The habitat is the same as that of the light-bellied snow chicken, but the habitat range is slightly smaller.