Photo: Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Painted Sandgrouse
Pterocles indicus
Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) — Unusual & Unique Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
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The Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) is a member of the Pteroclidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 178 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pterocliformes
- Family Pteroclidae Sandgrouse
- Genus Pterocles
- Species indicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 178 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Painted Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Painted Sandgrouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) is a member of the Pteroclidae family, within the order Pterocliformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 178 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 7.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Painted Sandgrouse?
The Painted Sandgrouse is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 178 g.
Where does the Painted Sandgrouse live?
The Painted Sandgrouse is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Painted Sandgrouse belong to?
The Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) belongs to the Pteroclidae family, in the order Pterocliformes.
What does the Painted Sandgrouse eat?
The Painted Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Painted Sandgrouse migrate?
The Painted Sandgrouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Painted Sandgrouse endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Painted Sandgrouse make?
1 real field recording of the Painted Sandgrouse — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Painted Sandgrouse's range?
The Painted Sandgrouse has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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