SNOW PATRIDGE

(Photograph was taken at the altitude of 4600M/ 15000ft, near Pindari Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttrakhand, India.)  

Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa) is a Gamebird (hunted for food or not normally domesticated) in the pheasant family found widely distributed across the high-altitude of Himalayan  regions of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and China. It is found above the tree line, mainly 3000m to 5000 m altitude. It is the only species within its genus. The species is found in alpine pastures and open hillside above the tree line.  Males and females look similar in plumage but males have a spur on their tarsus.

(Snow Patridge nest photograph was taken at the altitude of 4000M/ 13000ft, near Pindari Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttrakhand, India.)

This partridge appears grey above and chestnut below with bright red bill and legs and the upperparts finely barred in black and white. The tail is dark and barred in white. There is variation in the shade and some birds have a nearly black crown. The primaries and secondaries are brown and the breast is deep chestnut. The abdomen has more white and the lower flanks and feathers around the vent are barred brown and white. The under-tail coverts are chestnut with black shaft streaks and white tips. Young birds have the lower parts mottled and the barring less distinct. The tarsus is feathered on the front of the leg half-way to the toes.

(Snow Patridge chicken's photograph was taken at the altitude of 4600M/ 15000ft, near Pindari Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttrakhand, India.)

It measures 38–40 cm in length. Females weigh 450–580 g; males, 550–700 g. Sexes are similar in plumage, female lacks the spur, the male has a blunt spur and sometimes a second incipient spur. The snow partridge is found is small groups, usually about 6 to 8 but up to 30 during the non-breeding season. When flushed, they usually fly up before scattering away with noisy wing beats. The flight is rapid and stirring. It has a habit of sunning itself on rocks during the midday. The call in the breeding season is said to resemble that of the Grey Francolin of the plains. 

(Snow Patridge chicken's photograph was taken at the altitude of 4600M/ 15000ft, near Pindari Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttrakhand, India.)

The breeding season is May to July. The males are believed to be monogynous. The nest is a scrape on a hill-side under some sheltering rock, either scratched out by themselves or already available. The nest is sometimes lined with moss but well concealed although given away by the male. About 3 to 5 eggs are laid and the female incubates while the male stands sentinel. Parent birds may use distraction displays to draw the attention of predators. They call in a comparatively softer lower note to the young, which respond with chicken-like cheep calls.

(This Snow Patridge photograph was taken at the altitude of 4600M/ 15000ft, near Pindari Glacier, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttrakhand, India.)

PC: Dr Lalit Mohan
Dr Lalit mohan acknowledge the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_partridge and reference therein for text material.