Overview
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse: One of the most common sandgrouse in Africa and India. Upperparts are buff to light brown, underparts and face are chestnut, narrow breastband is black. Back and wings are mottled, primaries are darker brown. Tail has elongated central feathers, legs and feet are gray.
Range and Habitat
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse: Found only on the big island of Hawaii. Native to India, the southern Arabian peninsula, and parts of Africa. Prefers desert and semi-desert habitats, also found in arid scrub, dry steppe, and fallow fields.
Sandgrouse (Pteroclididae)
ORDER
Sandgrouse are the sole family in the PTEROCLIDIFORMES, an order of birds placed between the CHARADRIIFORMES (shorebirds, gulls, and terns), and the COLUMBIFORMES (pigeons and doves).
FAMILY TAXONOMY
There are sixteen species of sandgrouse in two genera in the family Pteroclididae (pronounced teh-roe-CLIH-dih-dee) that frequent arid climates in the temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
NORTH AMERICA
Naturally occurring in arid regions of Asia and Africa, the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse became the sole representative of the Pteroclididae in North America after its introduction to the island of Hawaii.
KNOWN FOR
Sandgrouse are most well known for flying long distance to water holes where they can often be found in very large flocks.
PHYSICAL
With short bills on small heads, longish necks, plump bodies with rather long tails, and feathered legs, sandgrouse are medium-sized birds with characteristics reminiscent of both pigeons and grouse although they are not closely related to either of those bird families. An adaptation for their nomadic behavior, sandgrouse also have elongated wings for rapid, long distance flight between scarce resources.
COLORATION
Sandgrouse species sport beautifully patterned plumages in varying shades of brown that are accentuated by black-and-white spots and barring, a pattern that makes for excellent camouflage in the dry habitats they prefer. Although males tend to be more boldly patterned than females, bright colors are restricted to the reds and yellows that occur on the bills and heads of some species.
GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT
Sandgrouse are birds of the plains, savannas, and deserts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse in Hawaii are no exception and are found in the drier, grassy areas of the island of Hawaii.
MIGRATION
Although Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse are resident in Hawaii, two species that breed in the temperate zones of Asia and Europe make short distance migrations during especially harsh winters.
HABITS
Sandgrouse are highly social birds almost always seen in flocks. To cope with the scarce resources of the harsh, arid environments they inhabit, they are highly nomadic in behavior and will fly long distances in search of food and water. With their cryptic plumages hiding them in plain sight, they warily forage on the ground for seeds and will burst into flight if startled.
CONSERVATION
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is not threatened in Hawaii or in its native range. Although some sandgrouse species have been locally affected by hunting, no species is considered to be globally threatened at this time.
INTERESTING FACTS
Despite living in deserts, sandgrouse are highly dependent upon water for survival and must drink on a regular basis. They often detect and are attracted to scarce watering holes and oases by following the calls of other sandgrouse. Males of most species have specially adapted feathers on their bellies that can retain liquid. This allows them to carry water from distant water holes back to their young in the nest.