- Lerwa lerwa
Identification
38-40 cm. A large, high-altitude and non-dimorphic partridge.
- Appears gre above and chestnut below
- Bright red bill and red legs
- Finely black and white barred head, neck and upperparts
- Some blurred chestnut on scapulars and wing-coverts
- Chestnut underparts with coarse white streaks
- Overall darkness varies and crown may be almost solid black
Sexes similar. Juveniles similar to adults but with finely spotted (not barred) head and neck and upper breast finely barred rufous.
Similar species
Note blackish primaries and narrower white trailing bar on secondaries compared to Tibetan Snowcock.
Distribution
Himalayas from northern Pakistan east to Tibet, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Assam and east to Central China (southern Gansu, northwest Sichuan, north Yunnan). Also listed for Afghanistan but probably erroneous.
Common in suitable habitat but threatened by overexploitation and habitat degradation.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- L. l. lerwa: Himalayas from eastern Afghanistan to southern Tibet
- L. l. major: eastern Tibet
Birds from Gansu in China have been separated as callipygia but this subspecies is usually not recognized.
Habitat
Found on alpine meadows and rocky, open hillsides above the three line with some rhododendron bushes and grasses. Prefers areas which are largely snow-free in winter.
Occurs usually between 3000 and 5500 m, rarely below 2500 m.
Behaviour
Usually seen in pairs or small groups, up to 30 birds at roosts.
Diet
Feeds on lichen, moss and other plant matter. Takes also seeds and grass and a small amount of animal food.
Breeding
Breeding season from late May to mid June, perphaps until July or even later. A monogamous and territorial species. The nest is a hollow by a rock or among alpine shrubs, usually placd on a steep slope or near a ridgeline. Lays 2 to 7 eggs.
Movements
Descends to lower altitudes in severe winters.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Snow Partridge. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Snow_Partridge
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
