The snow partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae found widely distributed across the high-altitude Himalayan regions of Pakistan, China, India and Nepal. It is the only species within its genus, and is thought to be the most basal member of the "erectile clade" of the subfamily Phasianinae. The species is found in alpine pastures and open hillside above the treeline but not in as bare rocky terrain as the Himalayan snowcock and is not as wary as that species. Males and females look similar in plumage but males have a spur on their tarsus.
Region
Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau
Typical Environment
Found across high-altitude regions from northern Pakistan through India, Nepal, and Bhutan into southern and eastern Tibet and adjacent western China. It favors alpine meadows, grassy slopes, dwarf rhododendron and juniper scrub, and broken slopes with scattered boulders above the treeline. Compared to Himalayan snowcock, it avoids the most barren scree and cliff faces and prefers slightly more vegetated hillsides. In winter it may descend to subalpine pastures and forest edges where snow cover is lighter. Birds often keep close to cover, using rocks and shrubs as shelter while foraging.
Altitude Range
2500–5500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Snow Partridge is the sole member of the genus Lerwa and is considered one of the most basal pheasants in its clade. It inhabits high-altitude alpine slopes where it forages in coveys, often close to the snowline. Males and females look alike, but males carry a spur on the tarsus. Its bill and legs are typically bright red, a striking contrast against its cryptic plumage.
Head showing barring and curved beak
Illustration by John Gould
Illustration from Hume and Marshall's Game birds of India (1890)
Temperament
social and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with swift downhill bursts
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it forms small coveys that feed and move together, keeping close to rocks and low scrub for cover. Pairs form in spring; nesting is a ground scrape hidden under shrubs or beside boulders. Clutches are typically medium-sized, and both adults may help guard the brood. Families remain cohesive while chicks learn to forage on open slopes.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include sharp piping whistles and chattering calls used for contact within coveys. Alarm calls are harsher, accelerating as birds flush and glide downslope. Dawn activity often features brief whistled exchanges across a slope.
