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Sandgrouse

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Sandgrouse
Related Category: Vertebrate Zoology
common name for pigeon-sized, seed-eating, terrestrial birds of the genera Pteroclida (approximately 14 species) and Syrrhaptes (2 species).

 


Sandgrouse are gregarious and feed and drink in large flocks
Sandgrouse are principally seed eaters.

Sandgrouse share several trits with pigeons, including their long wings and the practice of making long flights daily between breeding or feeding grounds, and pools of water at which they drink.

Sandgrouse are usually on the alert for danger. When they are startled, they often fly almost straight up into the air. They feed primarly on seeds, as well as grasses, herbs, and mustard leaves.
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Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
French: Ganga cata German: Spießflughuhn Spanish: Ganga Ibérica
Other common names: White-bellied/Large Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Taxonomy: Tetrao Alchata Linnaeus, 1766, Spain.
Two subspecies recognized.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Credit: Wikipedia
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The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus), is found in sparse, bushy, arid land throughout central and northern Africa, and southern Asia.

The Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus) is widespread and fairly common across much of the arid regions of southern Africa. The top image was taken in the Huab River Valley, Namibia, in October, 1998, with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 300mm F/2.

SANDGROUSE (Pteroclidae) Pteroclidae Sandgrouse
- Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus)
SANDPIPERS - Waders (Scolopacidae) (Shorebirds)
SAPSUCKERS ...

PTEROCLIDIFORMES
sandgrouse
NO CURRENT ENTRIES
PSITTACIFORMES
parrots, macaws, parakeets, cockatoos, cockatiels, lorikeets, & budgerigars ...

The pigeons and their allies form a distinctive group (order Columbiformes) comprising two families: the sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) and pigeons (Columbidae). They are medium-sized birds differing from all others in certain features.

Johnsgard, Paul A.. Bustards, Hemipodes, and Sandgrouse, Birds of Dry Places. Oxford University Press. 1991.
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Madge, S. and McGowan, P. (2002) Pheasants, partridges and grouse: including buttonquails, sandgrouse and allies. London: Christopher Helm (Helm Identification Guide).

Other bird species are known to irrupt, including finches, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Pallas’ Sandgrouse.
Mistaken Beliefs About Bird Irruptions ...

species of several are regularly wont to wander beyond its limits in winter seeking a southern climate. Of the peculiar genera only a few examples may be mentioned: Eurynorhynchus, the spoon-billed sandpiper of Siberia; Syrrhaptes, the sandgrouse of ...

See also: Pigeon, Flamingo, Petrel, Stork, Nightjar