Pterocliformes / Pteroclidae / Syrrhaptes
Pallas's Sandgrouse
Syrrhaptes paradoxus · 毛腿沙鸡
Introduction
Medium to large bird in the sandgrouse family. Breeds across middle latitudes of central Asia on dry steppes and similar habitats. Partial migrant, with southerly winter movement dependent on snowfall. Notable for male parents transporting water to chicks via saturated breast plumage.
Description
30–41 cm (12–16 in) long with a small, pigeon-like head and neck, sturdy compact body, long pointed wings, and tail. Legs and toes are feathered; small feet lack a hind toe, and the three front toes are fused together with a fleshy pad underneath. Plumage is buff-coloured, barred above, with a black belly patch and pale underwings. Male has a grey head and breast, orange face, and grey breast band. Female has duller plumage, lacks the breast band, and shows more barring on the upperparts.
Identification
Black belly and pale underwings distinguish this species from the related Tibetan sandgrouse. Male identified by grey head and breast, orange face, and grey breast band. Female distinguished by duller plumage, absence of breast band, and increased upperpart barring.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds across middle latitudes of central Asia on dry steppes. Partial migrant, especially from northern range in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Occasionally irrupts as a vagrant across Europe to Great Britain and Ireland. Western Siberian range has contracted due to agricultural expansion.
Behavior & Ecology
Nests in ground scrapes, laying 2–3 greenish eggs with cryptic markings. Primarily seed-eating diet requires large water intake. Capable of fast flight up to 64 km/h (40 mph). Large flocks of several thousand individuals fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk, making round trips of up to 121 km (75 mi) per day. Male parents soak breast plumage in water to allow chicks to drink absorbed moisture upon return.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Genus
- Syrrhaptes
Distribution
sandy steppes of central Asia from western Kazakhstan to northeastern and east-central China
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
