Crowned Sandgrouse

Pterocles coronatus

Medium-sized sandgrouse, smaller than Spotted Sandgrouse. Rather compact build, lacking any long projecting tail feathers. Males have a distinctive black forehead and chin. Females are heavily patterned all over. Both sexes have an orange throat and a grayish crown and nape. In flight, shows a strongly contrasting two-toned underwing pattern. Flight call is a rather dry, nasal mumble, “hu-het hu-het.” Breeds on stony plains and hills in the harsh desert. Congregates at drinking spots in the morning.

识别特征

A fairly small sandgrouse which appears rather uniformly coloured from a distance except for darker flight feathers, the wholly dark flight feathers being the best feature to identify crowned sandgrouse from the similar spotted sandgrouse. The dark flight feathers contrast with the sandy upper wing coverts and the creamy underwing coverts. The adult male has a black mask and lacks any grey tones on the neck and breast. The females and immatures lack the black mask and differ from spotted sandgrouse in having dark vermiculations, rather than spots, across the breast and all of the belly and not confined to the breast and upper belly as in spotted sandgrouse. They are 27–29 cm long and have a wingspan of 52–63 cm.

分类信息

Previously the crowned sandgrouse was included in genus Eremialector and recent studies suggest that it is part of a clade that also includes the yellow-throated sandgrouse P. gutturalis and the Madagascar sandgrouse P. personatus; and these may form a group along with the two Syrrhaptes species, black-bellied sandgrouse P. orientalis, Namaqua sandgrouse P. namaqua and chestnut-bellied sandgrouse P. exustus, and possibly including also P. alchata and P. burchelli; further study is required.<p>Five subspecies are currently recognised:

学名
Pterocles coronatus
命名信息
Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823
Pterocliformes
Pteroclidae
Pterocles

分布与栖息地

The crowned sandgrouse occurs in North Africa and south Asia and is found from Mauritania in the west through the Middle East to Pakistan. The crowned sandgrouse is a bird of deserts, preferring stony deserts rather than sandy ones. In North Africa breeds among dark red sandstone which matches its plumage colour. Avoids areas with too much vegetation.

迁徙
Resident species

行为

Migration pattern: Resident species.

保护状况

Population trend: stable.

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

Spanish Eagle

Spanish Eagle

Aquila adalberti

Rare eagle breeding only in Spain and Portugal, with some immatures dispersing into North Africa. Very similar to the closely-related Imperial Eagle, but is darker overall and adults have a distinctive white leading wing edge on the shoulders which can been seen from below when flying. Juveniles are rufous and largely unstreaked on the upperwings, underwings, and the breast compared to the heavily streaked Imperial Eagles. Mostly found in remote forested landscapes, especially those with a high density of rabbits.

Brushland Tinamou

Brushland Tinamou

Nothoprocta cinerascens

Small, short-necked tinamou of the chaco region of the central Southern Cone. Most often detected by voice. From similar White-bellied Nothura, with which its range partly overlaps, by gray legs and brownish belly. Tends to prefer thorn forest with dense grass or scrubby understory, but can be seen along road sides. Song a 5-8 part flat whistle, given with progressively more emphasis.

Common Ground Dove

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Tiny dove with short, square-tipped tail. Male is sandy brown with a pinkish hue, female is slightly duller. Look for scaly pattern on neck and breast, dark spots on wings, and pink bill with dark tip. In flight, look for rufous wings and small white corners on tail. Fairly common from the southern U.S. to southeast Brazil. Inhabits open or shrubby areas with tall grasses or groves of trees, including riparian corridors and open savannas; also in towns. Usually in pairs or small groups on the ground; also perches in low trees and shrubs. Eats seeds, grains, and some insects. Compare with female Ruddy Ground Dove and Plain-breasted Ground Dove, especially because female Common can have reduced scaling. Can occur in mixed flocks with other ground doves.

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