Pterocles indicus
The Painted Sandgrouse, *Pterocles indicus*, is a strikingly marked resident gamebird of arid and semi-arid regions in the Indian subcontinent. Measuring approximately 25-28 cm (10-11 inches) in length with a wingspan of 48-52 cm, it weighs around 150-170 grams. Males are particularly vibrant, sporting an intricate plumage pattern: a black forehead and lores, a chestnut band across the crown, and a distinctive white-bordered black band extending from the eye to the nape. The breast is a rich ...
Arid and semi-arid open country, scrubland, rocky plains, and thorny bush country, typically found in lowlands and foothills up to about 1200 meters elevation.
Primarily small seeds from grasses and herbaceous plants, supplemented with a small number of insects.
Painted Sandgrouse are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging on the ground and making synchronized flights to waterholes, typically at dawn and dusk, a crucial daily ritual. Their foraging strategy involves pecking seeds and insects from the ground, often in small, loose flocks. While n...
The Painted Sandgrouse is a resident species primarily found across the Indian subcontinent. Its main distribution spans much of peninsular India, extending from Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west, south through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It is also fou...
Least Concern
- The male Painted Sandgrouse possesses specially adapted belly feathers that can absorb and hold a significant amount of water, which he transports back to the nest to hydrate his chicks. - Their intricate plumage provides exceptional camouflage against the stony, scrubby terrain of their arid h...