Tibetan Sandgrouse
Syrrhaptes tibetanus
A sandy-colored ground bird with a thin needle-point tail and a gentle, dove-like profile. Not as well-marked as other sandgrouse: soft sandy brown with a light orange face and finely barred breast. Female has weak barring all over her back and wings. Often seen in flight, during which it reveals extensive black on the underwings and the upper end of the upperwings. Does not regularly visit water holes, unlike many other sandgrouse species. Inhabits wide, open expanses of semi-desert.
Identification
The 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 crown, white belly and black underwings. Male has unspotted buff wing while the female has barred wing coverts, upperparts and upper belly than the male. Juvenile lacks the tail pin, has narrower barrings and has less orange on the face. White belly and dark underwings are distinctions from the related Pallas's sandgrouse, with which its range overlaps. As with that species, its small feet lack a hind toe, and the three front toes are fused together. The upper surface is feathered, and the underneath has a fleshy pad. The appearance of the foot is more like a paw than an avian foot.
Taxonomy
Currently considered monotypic. Birds from the Pamirs were earlier separated as race pamirensis. The species was first described by Gould in 1850 based on specimen from Tso-Morriri in Ladakh.
- Scientific name
- Syrrhaptes tibetanus
- Authority
- Gould, 1850
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Genus
- Syrrhaptes
Range and habitat
Tibetan sandgrouse is found in mountains ranges of Central Asia, Tibet, Central China and the Himalayas. Though the population is decreasing, due to the large range and low rate of population decrease, the species is classified as "Least Concern" by IUCN.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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