Sandgrouse

Sandgrouse are not grouse but a family (Pteroclididae) within the Columbiformes order that also includes pigeons, doves and the late lamented dodo. There are 16 species in all, divided between two genera, Syrrhaptes and Pterocles, which have two and fourteen species respectively.

The picture shows a double-banded sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus) in Botswana.

Sandgrouse live in open, sandy, treeless country in various parts of the Old World, specifically the drier parts of Africa, Madagascar, southern Europe and central and southern Asia. They may be thought to resemble short-legged grouse in general shape, but their heads and necks and much more like those of pigeons.

 

Appearance

They are medium-sized and quite plump birds, between nine and sixteen inches in length. Their colouring has evolved to give them some degree of protection in their dry and semi-desert environments, being mostly greys and browns with dappled orange, chestnut, black and white in various combinations.

 

Behaviour

Sandgrouse are often found in large flocks, walking about in search of berries, seeds and buds and the occasional insect. They are fast fliers, as will be seen if they are disturbed, rising with much clattering of wings to fly off with short quick wingbeats that make a whistling noise.

Sandgrouse are well adapted to living in arid regions, having thick, tough skins, but they still need to drink water every day. With water holes being scarce resources, they are aware that predators will also be present to take advantage of that fact. When a flock of sandgrouse arrive, they will typically land some distance away and wait for up to ten minutes until they are sure that the coast is clear. They will then fly to the edge of the water, wade in, and drink their fill in pigeon fashion (i.e. sucking up the water without needing to tip the head back).

 

Breeding

The usual sandgrouse egg clutch is two or three, these being laid in the open in an unlined ground scrape. Both partners will incubate the eggs, this taking up to four weeks before they hatch. The usual pattern is that the females incubate during the day and the males at night, this being the opposite to what pigeons do. When the female is on the nest, the male sandgrouse will bring food and water to her. The belly feathers of sandgrouse are specially adapted to absorb water, which is how water can be transported from the water hole to the nest.

Both partners will feed the young birds, by regurgitating part-digested food. In order to lure predators away from the chicks, adult sandgrouse will perform distraction displays similar to those of plovers which pretend to have a broken wing. Young sandgrouse are precocial, which means that they leave the nest virtually as soon as they are dry, but they are by no means independent and have to be taught how to feed. They are also unable to regulate their own body temperatures at first, so the parent birds need to screen them from the sun during the day and brood them during the night, at least for the first few days after hatching. It will be several months before the young sandgrouse are able to lead independent lives.

© John Welford