Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse

The chestnut-bellied sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) is a species of sandgrouse. They are found in sparse, bushy, arid land which is common in central and northern Africa, and southern Asia. Though they live in hot, arid climates, they are highly reliant on water. They have been known to travel up to 80 kilometres (50 mi) in one day in search of water. All species of sandgrouse that have been studied in habitat have proved to be entirely vegetarian throughout their lives, specialising in leguminous weed seeds and seldom eating grass seeds.

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse
male and female

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pterocliformes
Family: Pteroclidae
Genus: Pterocles
Species:
P. exustus
Binomial name
Pterocles exustus
(Temminck, 1825)

In the 1960s many birds were captured using clap traps from Rajasthan in India and introduced into Nevada. They have also been introduced to Hawaii.[2]

A subspecies, P. e. floweri, was last seen in the Nile Valley of Egypt in 1979. It is thought to be extinct, but the reasons for this are unknown.[3]

  • female with fledgling, India
  • in flight at Tiptur, Karnataka
  • a roosting pair

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Pterocles exustus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Christensen, Glen C. (1962) Use of the Clap Net for Capturing Indian Sand Grouse. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 26(4):399–402.
  3. Hume, J. P.; Walters, M. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: A & C Black. p. 133. ISBN 1-4081-5725-X.

External sources


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