Black-faced sandgrouse

(Redirected from Pterocles decoratus)

The black-faced sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus) is a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Black-faced sandgrouse
A pair at Serengeti N. P., Tanzania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pterocliformes
Family: Pteroclidae
Genus: Pterocles
Species:
P. decoratus
Binomial name
Pterocles decoratus
Cabanis, 1868

Subspecies

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P. d. ellenbecki ♂,♀
P. d. decoratus ♂,♀
Journal für Ornithologie

There are three subspecies:[2]

  • P. d. decoratus - SE Kenya and E Tanzania
  • P. d. ellenbecki - NE Uganda and N Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia
  • P. d. loveridgei - W Kenya and W Tanzania

Breeding Patterns

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The breeding season of birds such as the sandgrouse which live in semi-arid tropics correlates with rainfall, thus the true extent or timing at which the breeding season will occur is highly unpredictable. Little is known about the duration and variation of the sandgrouse's breeding in Kenya, although it is most likely to breed in the dry season following the long rains. Its reproductive organs are known to increase largely in size during breeding season, despite the scarcity of the breeding patterns.[3]

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Pterocles decoratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22693013A93378656. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693013A93378656.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus)". The Internet Bird Collection. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  3. ^ Njoroge, P; Lens, Luc; Sutton, J (December 2003). "The validity of open seasons for sandgrouse shooting: analysis of an 11-year data set from Kenya". African Journal of Ecology. 35 (3): 186–193. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.1997.078-89078.x.