The Himalayan snowcock is a large grey partridge-like bird, 55–74 cm (22–29 in) in length and weighing 2–3.1 kg (4.4–6.8 lb).

The lower breast plumage is dark grey, and the sides of the body are streaked with black, chestnut and white.

Sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is smaller and lacks the large tarsal spur of the male.

In flight, from above, the white primaries tipped in black and the rufous outer tail feathers make it distinctive.

[4][5][6][7][8][9] Around 1841 specimen of a bird was brought to the menagerie of the Zoological Society of London, presented by E. W. Bonham, consul at Tabrez.

[11] The large distribution range is fragmented and these disjunct populations show variations in plumage that have been named as subspecies.

[13][14] Himalayan snowcock frequents alpine pastures and steep ridges of mountains of Central and South Asia above the treeline and near the snowline.

[17] Since the Himalayan snowcock has a large distribution range and no visible declines in population, it has been considered a species of "least concern" by the IUCN.

[5] When feeding they walk slowly up hill, picking up the tender blades of grass and young shoots of plants on the way.

[21] In the Hunza range, flock sizes tended to be larger in rocky habitats, where they risked being attacked by Golden Eagles, than on grassy meadows.

The nest is a bare ground scrape sheltered under a stone or bush, preferably close to the crest of a ridge on the leeward side.

The male is monogamous, staying in the vicinity of the nest often seen perched on some elevated rock and keeping a watch against intruders.