Painted Sandgrouse

Pterocles indicus

Order:

Pterocliformes

Family:

Pteroclidae

Size:

24 to 29 centimeters (9.4 to 11.4 inches)

Weight:

180 to 250 grams (6.3 to 8.8 ounces)

Taxonomy:

(Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Short Description:

The Painted Sandgrouse is a medium-sized bird with cryptic plumage, adapted for camouflage in its arid habitat. It has sandy-brown upperparts with intricate black and white markings, providing excellent camouflage. The underparts are typically paler, with a distinctive black patch on the belly. The male has a bold black face mask, while the female has a less distinct facial pattern. It has a compact body, short legs, and a small head with a short, straight bill.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

In Pakistan, the Painted Sandgrouse is primarily found in the arid and semi-arid regions, including areas such as Balochistan, Sindh, and parts of Punjab. It inhabits a variety of open habitats, including deserts, scrublands, grasslands, and rocky plains.

Painted Sandgrouse are often seen in pairs or small flocks, foraging on the ground for seeds, grains, and vegetation. They are well adapted to arid conditions and can travel long distances in search of water, often visiting water sources during the early morning or late afternoon. During the breeding season, which typically occurs from spring to early summer, Painted Sandgrouse form monogamous pairs and build simple scrape nests on the ground, lined with vegetation. Both parents share incubation duties and care for the young chicks until they are able to forage on their own. The species is known for its distinctive flight pattern, with rapid, direct flight and whirring wing beats.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast