Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE PLOVER-LIKE BIRDS

THE GULLS AND THEIR ALLIES

Sand Grouse Feathers

To descend now to particulars, the Sand Grouse are as a rule birds of a yellowish brown or buff color, and generally possess four toes, although the hind toe is always small and in one genus is entirely absent; all the toes are on the same level, the front ones being short and rather broad. There are eleven primary quills in the wings and the tail is composed of from fourteen to sixteen feathers, the central ones being in some greatly elongated, while in others the outer primary is produced into a thin filament. In all the species the tarsus is covered with short, downy feathers and some have the toes feathered in addition.

The Sand Grouse frequent for the most part the great bare plains and deserts, such as those so well known in many parts of Africa and Asia, a few only coming to the border of the thin, bushy jungle, all, however, avoiding the dense forests and keeping mostly to the open places, where their quiet plumage well harmonizes with the soil, sand, and stones among which they live. Although supposed to be strictly monogamous, they are gregarious at all seasons, occurring sometimes in flocks of immense size, though usually seen in small companies or perhaps family parties.

Their haunts are ordinarily at no great distance from water, to which they repair with great regularity at morning and evening, some being decidedly crepuscular, visiting the drinking places before dawn and after dark.

They are shy, wary birds at all times, but especially so when visiting the water, and are said never to approach it without first surveying the ground for possible danger. Although they are somewhat awkward on the ground, due to their short legs and feet, they walk fairly well and manage to run with considerable rapidity, but on the wing they enjoy a strong, rapid, and very noisy flight.

They all lie closely until flushed, and are very fond of basking in the hot sun in slight hollows scratched out for the purpose in the sand. The cry of the Sand Grouse is variously described as a piercing whistle, a twittering, or a di- or tri-syllabic clucking, the nature of the notes differing more or less with the various species; all cries are frequently uttered while on the wing. They are more or less pugnacious birds among themselves, the males frequently engaging in battle.

The food consists of seeds, tender shoots, insects, and berries when obtainable, and they make no nest, or at most a very slight one, depositing the eggs, usually three in number, in a slight depression in the ground. The eggs are peculiarly shaped, being equally rounded at both ends, and in color are gray or greenish with double spotting of brown and reddish.

Both parents take part in incubation, but they are not very solicitous for the safety of the eggs, as they are frequently left uncovered for some time while the sitting birds are away at the drinking places or feeding. The young are covered with a richly colored down, and are able to run about as soon as they leave the shell. Although ranked as game birds, they are not very highly esteemed for this purpose, as the flesh is hard and lacking in flavor.

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