Himalayan Snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal

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The Himalayan Snowcock (Tetraogallus
himalayensis, Figure 1), locally called
“Himali Hiunkukhura”, represents one
among the 23 terrestrial bird species within
the family “Phasianidae” found in Nepal. This
diverse bird group also includes species such
as Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus),
Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii), Kalij
Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos), Himalayan
Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), Indian Peafowl
(Pavo cristatus), Koklass Pheasant (Purcasia
macrolopha), Hill Partridge (Arborophila
torqueola), Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix),
etc. (Grimmett et al., 2016; Inskipp et al., 2016).
These species generally engage in foraging
behaviors involving the excavation of ground
surfaces and leaf litter (Sathyakumar & Sivakumar,
2007) and prefer locomotion over ight or gliding
when confronted with potential threats (Grimmett
et al., 2016). They have a wide range of habitat-
from the Terai lowlands to the higher elevations
of the Himalayas in Nepal (Grimmett et al., 2016;
Inskipp et al., 2016). Among the pheasant species
of Nepal, only one species viz. Common Quail
(Coturnix coturnix) is a migratory one (winter
visitor) while the others including Himalayan
Snowcock are residential (Grimmett et al., 2016).
Himalayan Snowcock is an alpine bird species
which is comparatively sedentary in nature,
and is restricted to higher altitudes between
3600 and 4,579 m above the msl (Longying et
al., 2010; BLI, 2018). Globally, the species is
distributed in Afghanistan, China,
India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
(BLI, 2018). In Nepal, the species
is reported between the elevations
of 4250-5900 m above the msl,
especially in western and mid-
western Nepal (Grimmett et al.,
2016). Prior to 1990, the presence
of the Himalayan Snowcock
was documented as far up to the
Langtang National Park in eastern
Nepal; however, subsequent
observations have been indicated
that the species has been
exclusively recorded in the western
region of Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal
(Inskipp et al., 2016). Frequently mistaken for its
close relative, the Tibetan Snowcock, Himalayan
Snowcock has a limited distribution within Nepal
(Grimmett et al., 2016). This misidentication
can be attributed to similarities in plumage and
overlapping ranges with the Tibetan Snowcock
Himalayan Snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) in
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal
S. Regmi 1 and H. P. Sharma 2*
Received: 3, July 2023 Revised: 9, July 2023 Accepted: 16, August 2023 Published: 20, December
2023
Short note
Banko Janakari, Vol 33 No. 1, 2023 Pp 60‒64
https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v33i1.56507
1 Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
2 Nepal Zoological Society, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. *E-mail: hpsharma@cdztu.edu.np
Figure 1: A Himalayan Snowcock captured on camera trap
in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, 2022

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Regmi & Sharma
(Grimmett et al., 2016; Inskipp et al., 2016).
The species is categorized globally as the “least
concerned” by the IUCN Red List (BLI, 2018),
but under “near threatened” by the National Bird
Red Data Book of Nepal (Inskipp et al., 2016).
The species faces different anthropogenic threats
due to its consumption as a source of food and
ethno-medicine among the local communities
residing within its habitat (Haq et al., 2020).
Despite the potential risks posed by these threats,
only a limited research has been conducted on
the status of this bird species both globally and
in Nepal so far. Denitive information regarding
the population status of the species in Nepal
remains elusive, primarily due to the scarcity of
systematic studies, with many of the available
records consisting of opportunistic sightings
predating 1990 (Inskipp et al., 2016). Therefore,
we aimed to identify the current distribution of
Himalayan Snowcock in Dhorpatan Hunting
Reserve (DHR), Nepal.
Material and methods
Study area
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is a highland
protected area and the only hunting reserve of
Nepal which is attributed to temperate, sub-
alpine and alpine vegetation (Figure 2). It was
established in 1983, and was ofcially declared
in 1987. It covers an area of 1325 km2. The
altitude of the terrain ranges from 3000 m to
7000m above the msl, and comprises seven
distinct blocks- i) Surtibang, ii) Fagune, iii)
Barse, iv) Ghustung, v) Dogari, vi) Seng, and
vii) Sundaha. In the DHR, the monsoon season
Figure 2: Map showing the locations of Himalayan Snowcock within DHR; location of DHR in
the map of Nepal (top-left corner)

Banko Janakari, Vol 33 No. 1
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Regmi & Sharma
transpires from June-October, characterized by
an annual precipitation level below 1000 mm.
The temperature in the area exhibits variation,
with an average of 1.4° C during winter and an
average of 24.8° C during summer. It supports the
occurrence of mammal species including Snow
Leopard (Panthera uncia), Barking Deer
(Muntiacus vaginalis), Blue Sheep (Pseudois
nayaur), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Himalayan
Goral (Naemorhedus goral), Himalayan Tahr
(Hemitragus jemlachicus), Himalayan Black
Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Red Panda (Ailurus
fulgens), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta),
Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar), Wild Boar
(Sus scorfa), Wolf (Canis lupus), and 149 species
of avian fauna including Cheer Pheasant (Catreus
wallichi) and Himalayan Monal (L. impejanus,
Jnawali et al., 2011; Grimmett et al., 2016, Regmi
et al., 2023; Sharma et al., 2023).
Data collection
Data on the Himalayan Snowcock were collected
during our camera trap monitoring of the
mammal species in the DHR following Regmi et
al. (2023) and Sharma et al. (2023). The survey
was conducted from March 15 to June 15, 2022,
covering three specic blocks viz. i) Fagune,
ii) Barshe, and iii) Surtibang. While reviewing
the camera trap data, an individual Himalayan
Snowcock (Figure 1) was observed at one of
the sites. In addition, data on each bird-sighting
including the location coordinates and number
of the observed individuals throughout the study
period were opportunistically documented.
Additionally, the ground cover types (barren-land,
grassland, shrub-land, and snow) were visually
interpreted and recorded for each observation site.
Results
During the course of our survey, we had a total
of 34 independent observations of Himalayan
Snowcock at 18 different locations within
the DHR. The elevational distribution of this
bird species was found to be between 3757-
4408m above the msl, with an average of
4105.06±153.5461m above the msl. Of the total
eight study sites (n=8), only a single individual
was observed followed by two individuals at ve
sites, three at two sites, four & ve individuals
at two different sites. We found a steady increase
in the number of the independent observations
with the increase in elevation; the highest
number of independent observation (n=5) being
at an elevation of 4408m above the msl. The
occurrence of Himalayan Snowcock was found to
be correlated with elevation (|r|=0.61).
We observed the species in four different habitat
types viz. i) barren/cliff, ii) grassland, iii) shrub-
land, and v) snow across the observation sites
during our study. Of the four habitat types, the
species was mostly detected in the grassland
where a total of 15 (44.20 %) individuals were
observed while the least with only 2 (5.88 %)
individuals were detected in the shrub-land. In the
case of the snow covered area and barren land,
9 (26.50 %) and 8 (23.50 %) individuals were
observed, respectively.
Discussion
This study recorded the occurrence of Himalayan
Snowcock in the DHR for the rst time, with
the increase in the number of observation with
the increase in elevation. Himalayan Snowcock
belongs to the “Galliformes” group of birds
distributed at higher altitudes between 4250-
5900 m above the msl both inside and outside
the protected areas of Nepal, mainly in western
and mid-western Nepal as well as in the Langtang
National Park situated in central Himalayan
region of Nepal (Grimmett et al. 2016). Though
the species is reported to be seen nearby the Shey-
phoksundo National Park (Kusi et al., 2018) and
Annapurna Conservation Area (Baral, 2018), the
existence of this species is yet to be conrmed in
the DHR. There is a lack of scientic studies on
this bird species in the DHR, which might be due
to the reason that it is listed as “least concerned”
by the IUCN Red List (BLI, 2018). However, this
is not the case in the DHR alone as the species
is relatively less focused in scientic research
globally (BLI, 2018) in comparison to other
“Galliformes”.
Our study found that the species preferred to
reside and roam above 3790 m altitude in the
DHR. It is a species with strictly restricted

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distribution and is limited mainly by the factors
like elevation and habitat type (Chun-hua et al.,
1992; Luzhang et al., 2005) which correlates with
the preference of alpine habitat close to snow-
line by the species (Bhattacharya et al. 2009).
However, our observation was contradictory to
the study of Grimmett et al. (2016) as the species
was observed well beyond the elevation range
specied for Nepal. This might possibly indicate
less focus on the study of this pheasant across
Nepal, and indicates the need to reassess the
species distribution in the highlands of Nepal.
A signicant proportion of our observations
of Himalayan Snowcock occurred within the
grassland areas; grasslands offer favorable
foraging sites rich in potential food resources
(Bland & Temple, 1990). This species engages
in foraging behaviors characterized by scratching
and digging the ground with its claws and beaks,
primarily to locate roots and insects (Sathyakumar
& Sivakumar, 2007). In addition to grasslands,
the Himalayan Snowcock has also been observed
foraging in close proximity to cliffs or barren
regions (Bland & Temple, 1990). The relatively
higher number of detections in snow-covered areas
and barren lands can be attributed to the species’
preference for alpine habitats (Bhattacharya et al.,
2009), which not only provide suitable conditions
but also potentially serve as a strategy to evade
predators (Bland & Temple, 1990).
Conclusion
This study conrmed the presence of Himalayan
Snowcock in the DHR for the rst time. The study
suggests that many rural areas need to be explored
for identifying the spatial locations of many faunal
species so that the Government of Nepal can
develop a species specic management plan.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Department of National
Parks & Wildlife Conservation and the Dhorpatan
Hunting Reserve for providing permissions
to carry out this study which is simply a
supplementary work accomplished during the
study on the mammal species in the Dhorpatan
Hunting Reserve. We acknowledge Mr. Hem B.
Katuwal for his critical comments to shape the
manuscript.
Conict of Interest
The authors declare no conict of interest.
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