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Species authority page

Himalayan snowcock

Tetraogallus himalayensis · Upland game birds

Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis): Very large: 64-74 cm, 2-3.5 kg, wingspan 1.1-1.3 m. Chestnut stripes around a pale face and throat. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the himalayan snowcock map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Tetraogallus himalayensis
Family
Phasianidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
In the US, NatureServe records the species in Nevada (introduced); Audubon calls its U.S. range limited.
Biology

How to identify it

Very large: 64-74 cm, 2-3.5 kg, wingspan 1.1-1.3 m. [1][2][3]

Chestnut stripes around a pale face and throat. [1][2][3]

Sexes similar, male slightly larger. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Steep and barren slopes above treeline in Nevada's Ruby Mountains; small flocks feed uphill during the day and glide down the slopes in the evening. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Displaying male gives a loud fluting whistle, plus chuckling clucks [1][2][3]

Feeds on roots, tubers and seeds [1][2][3]

Nest is a ground scrape, often sheltered by rocks or grass clumps; 4-6 eggs [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

In the US, NatureServe records the species in Nevada (introduced); Audubon calls its U.S. range limited.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30

    National Audubon Society

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology