Pallas's Sandgrouse

Pallas's Sandgrouse
Larger image
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Pteroclididae Genus: Syrrhaptes
Species
Syrrhaptes paradoxus

The Pallas's Sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family.

This species breeds across middle latitudes of central Asia on dry steppes and similar habitats. Its nest is a ground scrape into which 2-3 greenish eggs with cryptic markings are laid. It is a partial migrant, especially from the northern parts of its range in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, but the extent and distance of the southerly winter movement depends on the amount of snowfall.

Pallas’s Sandgrouse occasionally erupts from its regular breeding and wintering range across Europe as far west as Great Britain, where it has bred, and Ireland. The reasons for these remarkable movements are not fully understood, but they have become less frequent, probably due to contraction of the western Siberian range as the steppes become more agricultural.

This sandgrouse has a small, pigeon like head and neck, but sturdy compact body. It has long pointed wings and tail and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Legs are feathered down to the toes, which are also feathered.

Pallas’s Sandgrouse is about 30cm long, with buff plumage, barred above, a black belly patch and pale wings.