Mongolian Ground-Jay
Podoces hendersoni
With its long, slightly decurved bill, flashy black-and-white wings, and ground-loving behavior, this bird is far from a typical jay. Sandy brown overall with a black crown and a thin dark line behind the eye. Clean pale face, less extensive white in the wing, and lack of white on the rump distinguish it from similar-looking Xinjiang Ground-Jay. Inhabits open, dry steppeland and high-altitude semi-desert, where it forages on the ground but often perches up on exposed boulders or snags.
Identification
The bird is light tan with iridescent blue on its primary feathers. It has a long, curved beak and a black stripe on its forehead.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Podoces hendersoni
- Authority
- Hume, 1871
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Podoces
Range and habitat
It is found in arid areas of Central Asia (Mongolia, northern China and adjacent areas of Russia and Kazakhstan). It is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. It tends to live on areas with gravel surfaces.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Eggs are typically laid and hatched in April-May. They nest in Prunus pedunculata. Females spend more time foraging and the males spend more time brooding the chicks at the start of the nesting period. <p>They are most active in the morning.<p>Among ground jays, they have a relatively short trill call.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Hunter's Cisticola
Cisticola hunteri
A large, plain cisticola with a reddish cap and two bands across the tail tip, one pale and one dark. Found in open montane habitats with thick herbaceous undergrowth, including forest edge, grassland, and heath, almost always in pairs or small groups. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Very similar to Chubb’s Cisticola, but in the small area of overlap, Hunter’s occurs at higher elevations, and is distinguished by the softly streaked back and different vocalizations. Fairly similar to Singing Cisticola, but lacks a rufous panel in the wings. The distinctive song is given in chorus: a frantic series of spitting notes that runs up and down the scale, accompanied by simpler “cher-wee” calls.
Tawny Fish-Owl
Ketupa flavipes
A large brown owl with wide yellow eyes and sideways-drooping ear tufts; rich tawny brown plumage with black mottling unique in its range. Always found in close proximity to rivers or lakes, usually roosting in dense waterside groves by day. Hunts fish from a low perch at dusk and at night. Hunting birds are seldom observed, as they hunt from tangles and other dense vegetation. Other horned owls in range are either much smaller (Long-eared Owl, scops-owls) or much larger (Eurasian Eagle-Owl). Pairs duet, giving 2-3 deep hoots; younger birds beg with higher-pitched screeching calls.
Spotted Owlet
Athene brama
A small uncrested owl with a round head and a short tail. It is grayish-brown overall with white spots above while its underparts are white with brown bars. Note the distinctive white eyebrows and neck-band. Often active at dawn and dusk when it utters a loud “chirurr-chirurr-chirurr” laugh in addition to a variety of high-pitched squeals and whistles. Inhabits all kinds of open habitats but avoids dense forest and wetter regions.
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