Sandgrouse
Encyclopedia
- Sandgrouse is also the name of the journal of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East - see SandgrouseSandgrouse (journal)Sandgrouse is the journal of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East. It is named after a family of birds which are particularly characteristic of desert regions such as those found in the Middle East. The first ten issues were edited by Donald Parr. Numbers 11 to 12 and volumes 13 and 14...
The sandgrouse are a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Pteroclididae, of 16 bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species, the only living members of the order Pteroclidiformes. They are restricted to treeless open country in the Old World, such as plains and semi-deserts. They are distributed across northern, southern and eastern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as well as Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
; the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
through to central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
; and the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. Sandgrouse are traditionally placed in two genera. Two central Asian species in Syrrhaptes, and the rest in Pterocles, but recent research casts some doubt on this division.
Appearance
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They range in size from 24–40 cm in length and in weight between 150-500 g. There is little sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
in size, although the males are slightly larger. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. The muscles of the wings are strong and capable of a rapid takeoff if needed. Their short legs are feathered down to the toes, and genus Syrrhaptes
Syrrhaptes
Syrrhaptes is a genus of birds in the sandgrouse family. It comprises two central Asian species.* Tibetan Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes tibetanus* Pallas's Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxusThese are large birds breeding in open steppes or plateau...
has the toes feathered as well. The plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is cryptic
Cryptic
Cryptic can refer to:* Crypsis, of animals that are difficult to observe* Cryptic crossword, a crossword with cryptic clues* Cryptic era, earliest period of the Earth* Cryptic, an album by Edge of Sanity* Cryptic Writings, an album by Megadeth...
, an adaptation to feeding on the ground for long hours in open terrain. The plumage varies considerably amongst the sexes. The feathers of the belly are specially adapted to absorbing water and retaining it, allowing adult birds, particularly males, to carry water to chicks that may be many miles away from watering holes.
Diet and feeding
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
areas oats and grains are readily taken. Seeds are either collected from the ground or directly from the plants. Foraging techniques vary amongst species that coexist in order to reduce competition; in Namibia Double-banded Sandgrouse
Double-banded Sandgrouse
The Double-banded Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
feed slowly and methodically whilst Namaqua Sandgrouse
Namaqua Sandgrouse
The Namaqua Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
feed rapidly.
Sandgrouse are gregarious, feeding in flocks up to 100 birds. Their diet is dry and as a consequence they need to regularly visit water in order to drink. As they travel to water holes or lakes they call to others members of their species and many hundreds or thousands of birds may visit a drinking site at once. Not all species need to drink every day, and one species, the Tibetan Sandgrouse
Tibetan Sandgrouse
The Tibetan Sandgrouse is a large bird in the sandgrouse family.- Description :Tibetan Sandgrouse is about 30-41 cm long, with a small, pigeon-like head and neck, but sturdy compact body. It has long pointed wings and pin tail. It has an orange face, finely barred grey breast, neck and...
, does not travel to drink, presumably because of the relative abundance of water in its habitat. Most species are resident, but Pallas's Sandgrouse is eruptive.
Breeding
Sandgrouse are monogamousMonogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
. As the breeding season approaches, usually timed to coincide with a crop of seeds after the local rainy season, the feeding flocks tend to break up into pairs. The nesting site is nothing more than a slight depression in the ground; occasionally this can take the form of a footprint. Most typically three cryptic eggs are laid, occasionally there may be two and rarely four. Incubation
Avian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
duties are shared, with the males incubating at night and during the early morning and the females during the day. The chicks usually hatch after 20–25 days. The precocial
Precocial
In biology, the term precocial refers to species in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. The opposite developmental strategy is called "altricial," where the young are born or hatched helpless. Extremely precocial species may be called...
chicks leave the nest as soon as the last one to hatch is dry. They are capable of feeding themselves from hatching, but need to learn feeding skills from their parents, and remain closely with their parents for several months. At first the chicks are too small and young to thermoregulate
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different...
, and are provided with shade during the hottest part of the day and are brooded at night.
Relations with humans
Sandgrouse have little interactions with people, primarily because most species live in arid unpopulated areas and at low densities. They are not generally sought after as game birds as they are not especially palatable, although they have on occasion been taken in great numbers at water holes. An attempt to introduceIntroduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
them into Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
failed but they have been introduced to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. No species is considered to be threatened although there have been some localised range contractions, particularly in Europe.
Taxonomy
The Pteroclididae was formerly included in the GalliformesGalliformes
Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...
due to the similarities the family shares with the true grouse. However, it was later discovered that these similarities are superficial and a result of convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
. Sandgrouse were later placed near the Columbiformes
Columbiformes
Columbiformes are an avian order that includes the very widespread and successful doves and pigeons, classified in the family Columbidae, and the extinct Dodo and the Rodrigues Solitaire, long classified as a second family Raphidae. 313 species, found worldwide, comprise the Columbiformes order....
largely due to their reported ability to drink by the "sucking" or "pumping" action of peristalsis
Peristalsis
Peristalsis is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles which propagates in a wave down the muscular tube, in an anterograde fashion. In humans, peristalsis is found in the contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. Earthworms use a similar...
of the esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
("The only other group, however, which shows the same behavior, the Pteroclidae, is placed near the doves just by this doubtlessly very old characteristic."); more recently, it has been reported that they cannot, and they are now treated separately in the order Pteroclidiformes. They have been considered near passerine
Near passerine
Near passerine or higher land-bird assemblage are terms often given to arboreal birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines due to ecological similarities; the group corresponds to some extent with the Anomalogonatae of Garrod All near passerines are land birds...
birds and are considered by some to be closer to the shorebirds.
In the DNA-study by Fain and Houde (2004) they were included in the Metaves, together with the Columbiformes. In the larger study by Hackett et al. (2008) they were once again positioned close to the Columbiformes but also the Mesite
Mesite
The mesites are a family of birds of uncertain affinities. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. Generally brownish with paler undersides, they are of somewhat pheasant-like appearance and were initially placed with the Galliformes...
s.
The intricately-patterned, precocial downy young and egg colouration (though not shape) closely resemble those of many Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...
. Eggs are near elliptical.
Species
FAMILY: PTEROCLIDIDAE- Genus SyrrhaptesSyrrhaptesSyrrhaptes is a genus of birds in the sandgrouse family. It comprises two central Asian species.* Tibetan Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes tibetanus* Pallas's Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxusThese are large birds breeding in open steppes or plateau...
- Tibetan SandgrouseTibetan SandgrouseThe Tibetan Sandgrouse is a large bird in the sandgrouse family.- Description :Tibetan Sandgrouse is about 30-41 cm long, with a small, pigeon-like head and neck, but sturdy compact body. It has long pointed wings and pin tail. It has an orange face, finely barred grey breast, neck and...
, Syrrhaptes tibetanus - Pallas's SandgrousePallas's SandgrouseThe Pallas's Sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family named after the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas....
, Syrrhaptes paradoxus
- Tibetan Sandgrouse
- Genus PteroclesPteroclesPterocles is a genus of near passerine birds in the sandgrouse family. It includes all the species in the family except for two central Asian species in Syrrhaptes...
- Pin-tailed SandgrousePin-tailed SandgrouseThe Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family.The nominate race breeds in Iberia and southern France, and the eastern form P. a. caudacutus is found in northwest Africa, and from southeast Turkey east to Kazakhstan...
, Pterocles alchata - Namaqua SandgrouseNamaqua SandgrouseThe Namaqua Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
, Pterocles namaqua - Chestnut-bellied SandgrouseChestnut-bellied SandgrouseThe Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus, is a species of sandgrouse. They are found in sparse, bushy, arid land which is common in central and northern Africa, and southern Asia. Though they live in hot, arid climates, they are highly reliant on water. They have been known to travel up...
, Pterocles exustus - Spotted SandgrouseSpotted SandgrouseThe Spotted Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,...
, Pterocles senegallus - Black-bellied SandgrouseBlack-bellied SandgrouseThe Black-bellied Sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family.The nominate race breeds in Iberia, northwest Africa, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Iran, Cyprus and Israel. The eastern form P. o. arenarius is found in Kazakhstan, western China and northern Pakistan...
, Pterocles orientalis - Crowned SandgrouseCrowned SandgrouseThe Crowned Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, and...
, Pterocles coronatus - Yellow-throated SandgrouseYellow-throated SandgrouseThe Yellow-throated Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
, Pterocles gutturalis - Burchell's SandgrouseBurchell's SandgrouseThe Burchell's Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
, Pterocles burchelli - Madagascar SandgrouseMadagascar SandgrouseThe Madagascar Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is endemic to Madagascar....
, Pterocles personatus - Black-faced SandgrouseBlack-faced SandgrouseThe Black-faced Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
, Pterocles decoratus - Lichtenstein's SandgrouseLichtenstein's SandgrouseThe Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family, which is named after Martin Lichtenstein. They are nomadic, mostly nocturnal birds, which drink before dawn and after dusk....
, Pterocles lichtensteinii - Double-banded SandgrouseDouble-banded SandgrouseThe Double-banded Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
, Pterocles bicinctus - Painted SandgrousePainted SandgrouseThe Painted Sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family found in South Asia.- References : Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern...
, Pterocles indicus - Four-banded SandgrouseFour-banded SandgrouseThe Four-banded Sandgrouse is a medium-sized bird in the sandgrouse family.It breeds in a belt across Africa from Mauritania and Cameroon east to Sudan and Uganda. It is much more common in the west of its range...
, Pterocles quadricinctus
- Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
External links
- Sandgrouse videos on the Internet Bird Collection