Crowned Sandgrouse

The Crowned Sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus, presents as a fairly small bird within its family. At a glance, it may seem uniformly colored, blending seamlessly with its desert surroundings. However, upon closer inspection, one can discern the darker flight feathers that starkly contrast with the sandy upper wing coverts and the creamy underwing coverts. The adult male is distinguished by a striking black mask and a lack of grey tones on the neck and breast, while females and immatures are identified by dark vermiculations across the breast and belly.

Identification Tips

When observing the Crowned Sandgrouse, look for the wholly dark flight feathers as a key identifying feature. Males will have a black facial mask and a uniform coloration on the neck and breast, whereas females and immatures will exhibit dark vermiculations rather than spots, which cover the entire belly. These birds measure 27–29 cm in length and boast a wingspan of 52–63 cm.

Habitat

This species favors the stark landscapes of deserts, showing a preference for stony terrains over sandy expanses. In North Africa, they are often found breeding among dark red sandstone, which provides excellent camouflage for their plumage. They tend to avoid areas with an abundance of vegetation.

Distribution

The Crowned Sandgrouse is found across a broad range, from Mauritania in the west, through the Middle East, and extending to Pakistan in South Asia.

Behaviour

Exhibiting nomadic tendencies during the dry season, the Crowned Sandgrouse may travel away from known breeding areas. For instance, while scarce in northern Libya, they become frequent visitors at Wadi Caam from June to September. Outside the breeding season, they are quite gregarious, especially when congregating at water sources during early to mid-morning and again towards sunset.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Crowned Sandgrouse primarily consists of hard seeds. However, they also forage for shoots of grass and other plants to supplement their nutrition.

Breeding

Breeding sites are marked by a shallow depression on open ground, often encircled by a ring of stones which the birds have moved to the rim of the nest. The clutch size ranges from 2 to 3 eggs, which are incubated for just over three weeks. The chicks are precocial and fledge within 24–28 days.

Taxonomy

Recent studies suggest that the Crowned Sandgrouse may be part of a clade that includes the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse and the Madagascar Sandgrouse, among others. The taxonomy of this group is complex and requires further study. Currently, five subspecies of the Crowned Sandgrouse are recognized, each occupying different geographical ranges within the species' distribution.

Conservation status

The Crowned Sandgrouse is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers on a global scale.