About Tetraogallus caucasicus (Pallas, 1811)
This bird species, Tetraogallus caucasicus, the Caucasian snowcock, measures 50 to 60 centimeters, or 20 to 24 inches, in length. Its plumage is patterned across grey, brown, white, and black, though the bird appears solid grey when viewed from a distance. Compared to the rest of its body, its breast is darker, and its flanks are a more reddish shade. It has a white throat, a white patch on each side of the neck, and a rust-colored nape. When this wary bird is in flight, it displays white flight feathers, a white undertail, and reddish coloring on the sides of its tail. Males and females have very similar plumage, while juvenile birds are slightly smaller and have duller overall coloration. The Caucasian snowcock produces a desolate whistling song that is vaguely similar to the song of a Eurasian curlew, transcribed as sooo-looo-leeee. Its calls include loud cackles and bubbled buck-buck-buck-buck-burrrrrr.
