Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Pterocles alchata
The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) is a uncommon sandgrouse found in 19 countries, weighing about 276 g. The pin-tailed sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family.
About the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
The pin-tailed sandgrouse is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family. It has a small, pigeon-like head and neck and a sturdy, compact body. It has long pointed wings, which are white underneath, a long tail and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn. The call is a loud kattar-kattar. This gregarious species breeds on dry open treeless plains and similar habitats. Its nest is a ground scrape into which two or three cream-coloured eggs with cryptic markings are laid. Both sexes incubate the eggs.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The pin-tailed sandgrouse is a robust, medium-sized bird about 31 to 39 centimetres (12 to 15 in) in length. The general colouring is cryptic, a blend of barred and flecked olive green, brown, buff, yellow, grey and black. The underparts and the feathered legs are dull white. The sexes are different and the male's plumage varies with the time of year. In the breeding season, the male has the crown, most of the neck, the back and under-wing coverts a yellowish-green colour with dull yellow spots in the shoulder region.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse?
- The pin-tailed sandgrouse is a robust, medium-sized bird about 31 to 39 centimetres (12 to 15 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse?
- The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is a medium sized bird weighing about 276 g.
- Where can you see a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse?
- The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse occurs in 19 countries, including Spain, France, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Morocco.
- What birds look similar to a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse?
- The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is most easily confused with the Namaqua Sandgrouse, the Black-bellied Sandgrouse and the Double-banded Sandgrouse.
- Is the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse endangered?
- The Pin-tailed Sandgrouse is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse for real
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