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| Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis himalayensis
- Habitat |
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| Photographer : | © Gunjan Arora |
| Location : | Khuliya Meadows (~3700m), Munsiyari, Uttarakhand, India |
| Date : |
1 January 2016 |
| English synonyms: | Himalayan Snow Partridge |
| Bird Family : | Phasianidae - Partridges, Chukar, Francolins, Quails, Spurfowl, Pheasants, Tragopans, Monals, Junglefowl, Arguses, Peafowl, Grouse, Ptarmigans & Capercaillies |
| Bird Group : | GALLIFORMES |
| Red Data Status : | Least Concern |
| Remarks : | The moment we surfaced above the ridge, at 3,696 metres seven birds got flushed. Exposing white primaries, they flew in a wide arch left of us and then six more to the right, their alarm calls reminiscent of Chukars. Shaped like a bowl, the West face was a vast tract of snow, strewn with boulders. Some grass and sedge grew amongst the rocky fragments, and patches of lichen appeared on the stones. As we scanned through the bins, a bright yellow spot through the slate grey rocks was noticed. The orbital skin bordered by a bold postocular line of a frozen bird became apparent. We lay on our bellies as the birds eased, but they would often get lost to the eye amongst boulders and crags. They moved slowly digging in the snow and at times mounted a rock displaying their magnificence and exposing pure white under-tail coverts. They would freeze at the slightest movement in this open wilderness, and stay motionless for long. - GA |
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