Sandgrouse

Sandgrouse (Pterocles)

Sandgrouse (Latin: Pterocles) is a genus of birds in the family Pteroclididae, order Pteroclidiformes. Previously classified with pigeons. They are mainly found in arid regions of Southern Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Their diet consists primarily of seeds.

Genus Characteristics

Members of the genus Pterocles have legs with four separate, unfeathered toes, distinguishing them from another genus of sandgrouse — Syrrhaptes, where the legs and toes are feathered, the outer toe is fused with the middle, and there is no hind toe.

Distribution

Two species occur in Southern Europe: the black-bellied and the white-bellied sandgrouse. The black-bellied or steppe sandgrouse (P. orientalis) is found on the Iberian Peninsula, northwestern Africa, southwestern and central Asia, and adjacent parts of European Russia. The white-bellied sandgrouse (P. alchata) breeds in southwestern Europe, North Africa, southwestern Asia, and the Aral-Caspian lowlands.

Appearance

Both species have a mottled upper body with shades of gray, ochre, and brown. The underside is inconspicuous when the bird is pressed to the ground, but males display brighter coloring.

The black-bellied sandgrouse has a black belly, a black band separating the ochre breast from the crop, and a black triangular throat patch outlined above and on the sides with bright rust color.

The white-bellied sandgrouse has two black bands across the crop and breast and a black spot under the beak.