altai snowcock Tetraogallus altaicus

A burly brown inhabitant of high mountain passes, meadows, and plains, ranging from the low foothills up to isolated snowy peaks. The only snowcock throughout most of its range; minimal overlap with Himalayan Snowcock in far northwestern China and extreme northeastern Kazakhstan. Heavy contrast between the pale brown head and neck, white belly, and dark-brown-and-white back are unmistakable even from a distance and in poor weather conditions.