Painted Sandgrouse
A species of Sandgrouse Scientific name : Pterocles indicus Genus : Sandgrouse
Painted Sandgrouse, A species of Sandgrouse
Botanical name: Pterocles indicus
Genus: Sandgrouse
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Ashwin Viswanathan
Description
The painted sandgrouse is a plump ground-dwelling bird with a small head and short legs. The sexes are differently coloured. In the male, the bill is orange and there is a black bar across the white forehead, fine black longitudinal lines on the nape and a white patch of bare skin surrounding the eye. There is a broad black and white band around the chest. The breast and belly are a uniform pinkish-brown colour and the back, wings and tail are brown, boldly marked in black and white transverse bars. The female is duller in appearance being a greyish brown colour, barred and speckled with darker brown and white.
Size
28 cm
Feeding Habits
Painted Sandgrouse primarily feeds on seeds and shoots, occasionally including termites in its diet. It exhibits unique behavior by drinking water after dusk.
Habitat
Painted Sandgrouse primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid regions characterized by bare foothills and plateaux with sparse vegetation. It favors areas with scrub or thorn bushes, such as Acacia, Capparis, and Ziziphus. Additionally, it is found in parts with a more forested landscape, rocky terrain, firelines, and burnt areas, while it typically avoids coastal regions.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Behavior
The painted sandgrouse is found in dry regions in rough grassland, rocky areas and scrub and feeds mainly on seeds. It is gregarious and groups congregate at waterholes to drink.
Photo By Ashwin Viswanathan
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Sandgrouse Family
Sandgrouse Genus
Sandgrouse Species
Painted Sandgrouse