Pterocles alchata - Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Feather characters. Barbule length varies from medium until long (1.5-2.2 mm). Barbules are filamentous with even and translucent pigmentation throughout the barbules. Slightly thickened nodes (14-16 per mm) are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules, only slightly decreasing in size towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent, but occasionally some minute prongs are found.
Field characters. Size 31 cm. Weight: male 250 g (230-290), female 225 g (Dunning, 1993). Best distinguished from Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis, not included in BRIS) by white belly and underwings in both sexes, and long tail streamers in male. Male has chestnut face, black line through eye, black chin, greenish upper chest, black lower chest with chestnut border, and green upperparts. Female has a sand-coloured face and chest, with three black lines on chest, and black-speckled upperparts. Flight fast and pigeon-like; on the ground resembles pigeon or partridge. Gathers in large flocks at drinking places at dusk. Found in pairs during breeding season, but in large flocks in winter.
Voice. A loud 'catar catar', giving the impression of a flock of Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis, not included in BRIS) at a distance.
Distribution. Scarce; in the south-west of the region only. Resident. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Inhabits dry steppe-like areas, often near cultivation. Avoids open desert.
Food. Mainly seeds and sometimes small green plants; occasionally beetles.